Understanding the Book of Revelation

Contents
By Rev Tim Gibson (www.revtimothygibson.com).

Copyright 2018 Gibson Productions

PART ONE: RIGHTLY READING REVELATION – pages 3-13

PART TWO: LETTERS FROM JESUS – pages 14-24

PART THREE: THE SCROLL OPENER – pages 25-30

PART FOUR: THE SEVEN SEALS – pages 31-39

PART FIVE: TRUMPETS AND BOWLS – pages 40-51

PART SIX: ARE YOU RAPTURE READY? – pages 52-64

PART SEVEN: THE WOMAN & THE DRAGON – pages 65-74

PART EIGHT: THE TWO BEASTS – pages 75-85

PART NINE: THE GOD SIGNS – pages 86-94

PART TEN: THE FALL OF BABYLON – pages 94-103

PART ELEVEN: THE END OF ALL WICKEDNESS – pages 104-114

PART TWELVE: ALL THINGS MADE NEW – pages 115-127

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PART ONE: RIGHTLY READING REVELATION

1. Introduction:

Revelation is a UNIQUE letter (Rev 1:1-2)

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants,
things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel
to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony
of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.” Revelation 1:1-2 (NKJV)

First, it must be noted that the manner in which this letter came is quite unique.
The other books of the Bible were written by human authors under inspiration
of the Holy Spirit and their character and personality shines through in the
writing. Revelation was given to Jesus by Father God, which in turn was handed
to angels who showed John, who was in the Spirit! John wrote this down and
then passed this on to the churches (maybe angels were the postmen as the
individual letters to the seven churches are addressed to the angel of that
church).

The book of Revelation is truly a revelation that John saw and he simply took
notes in short hand of what he saw. Many scholars doubt John’s authorship of
Revelation as the style is so different to John’s Gospel and short epistles.
However, this can be explained as John was merely scribbling down notes on
what was being unfolded before him. When you take notes at a seminar or a
lecture is the end product the same as a self-composed essay?

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It is also noted by scholars that the Greek used is quite scrappy with many
unfinished sentences. However, John did not tidy this up because God
promised a curse upon anyone who tampered with what he had written! See
Revelation 22:19.

Traditionally, the book of Revelation has been dated near the end of the first
century, around A.D. 96. Some writers, however, have advanced the preterist
(from a Latin word meaning “that which is past”) view, contending that the
Apocalypse was penned around A.D. 68 or 69, and thus the thrust of the book
is supposed to relate to the impending destruction of Jerusalem (A.D. 70).

A few prominent names have been associated with this position (e.g., Stuart,
Schaff, Lightfoot, Foy E. Wallace Jr.), and for a brief time it was popular with
certain scholars. James Orr has observed, however, that recent criticism has
reverted to the traditional date of near A.D. 96. In fact, the evidence for the later
date is extremely strong.

a. External Evidence – Irenaeus (AD130), Clement of Alexandria (AD 155-

215), Victorinus (late third century) and Jerome (AD 340-420) all suggest a later
date (AD 96)

b. Internal Evidence – The spiritual conditions of the seven churches

(Chapters 2-3) harmonize with a later date. For example, Ephesus was not
founded by Paul until latter part of Claudius’s reign and he wrote to them in
AD61 approving them of their faith and love (Ephesians 1:15), yet Revelation
2:2 says they have left their first love. Laodicea is said to be living with great
wealth (3:17) but in AD60 there was an earthquake that almost destroyed it!

Another internal evidence is that Revelation was written when John was
banished to Patmos (1:9) – this was the later Emperor Domitian’s favourite form
of torture. Nero simply martyred the Apostles Peter and Paul.

The doctrinal departures mentioned in Revelation are more suitable to a later

date. The Nicolaitans (2:6, 15) were a full-fledged sect at the time of John’s
writing, whereas they had only been hinted at in general terms in 2 Peter and
Jude, which were written possibly around A.D. 65-66.

Persecution for professing the Christian faith is evidenced in those early letters
to the seven churches of Asia Minor. For instance, Antipas had been killed in
Pergamum (2:13). It is generally agreed among scholars, however, that Nero’s
persecution was mostly confined to Rome; further, it was not for religious
reasons.

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2. Overview:

a. Views on Revelation

i. GOD’S View

Special blessing: “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of
this prophecy and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.”
Revelation 1:3 (NKJV)

Special curse: “and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this
prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city,
and from the things which are written in this book.” Rev 22:19 (NKJV)

Unlike any other book of the Bible, God places a special blessing and a special
curse within this letter. There is a special blessing to all who read, hears and
keeps the words revealed here and a special curse on anyone who tampers
with the words in the letter (adds to or takes away from them).

This is the icing on the cake of the Bible! Revelation ties up all the loose thread
and completes all the unfinished stories. Without the book of Revelation, we
would end the Bible with the horrible little book of Jude that addresses the
problems of a second-generation church!

ii. SATAN’S View

Satan hates the book of Revelation with a strong loathing.

There are two portions of Scripture Satan hates the most, they are the first few
and last few chapters of the Bible! Genesis 1-3 shows the entrance of Stan onto
the human scene and his strategies and methods and Revelation chapters
twenty to twenty-two shows Satan’s final defeat and destiny.

There is a story I heard (narrated by David Pawson) about a pastor who had a
man come to his office for deliverance from demons. As the pastor prayed the
man manifested and immediately ran to the study desk where there were two
Bibles. The demon-possessed man opened each bible and ripped one page
out of each. After the pastor and his team prayed for and cast out the demons
they took a look at the Bibles and realized the man had pulled out the same
page from each Bible, the page containing Revelation Chapter 20, which spells
out the ultimate defeat of Satan!

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iii. MAN’S View

See the following chart to see the four views of Revelation that man has come
up with over the centuries.

Throughout church history there have been four main schools of interpretation
concerning the book of Revelation.

PRETERISM: The Preterist view derives its name from the Latin word praeter
meaning past. It attempts to relate all of Revelation except for the very end to
events in the first three centuries, with Rome and its early emperors, particularly
Nero, being the only principals.

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HISTORICISM: The Historicist view of Revelation attempts to map the events

described in the book to historical events, providing a panorama of the history
of the Church from the days of John to the end of time.

IDEALISM: The Idealist believes simply that Revelation does not refer to any
historical or future event at all; rather it is a timeless allegory of the conflict
between good and evil - a description of the spiritual principles of God that equip
one for spiritual battles, which constantly confront the Church.

FUTURISM: Although the three views given above may entail some recognition
of predictive prophecy in Revelation, not one of them permits Eschatological
derivations to be made. The fourth manner in which Revelation may be
understood is the Futurist viewpoint, which views most of the book (chapters 4
- 22) as prophecy yet to be fulfilled. This is the only logical interpretation if one
is to interpret the text plainly. The Futurist viewpoint is the only one which most
literally follows scripture under consistent and proper hermeneutics.

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One Futurist model of interpretation is shown below. This assumes the seven
churches are to be interpreted as church ages. Personally I do not feel this is
justified as Jesus spoke to real churches with real problems all at the same
time. In this teaching I will interpret the churches as literal churches from John’s
time that ALL have relevance to us today (see lesson 2).

The other diagram shows how these views compare in their placing of the Great
Tribulation. For each view the time of the Great Tribulation is shown within an
arch (the Idealist view is not included as they merely spiritualize this time).

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Example comparison between these views.

As an example of the four main differing interpretations of Revelation let us look
at the interpretation of the Scarlet Woman in Revelation 17.

Preterism would interpret it as being fulfilled in the immediate history

surrounding the writing of Revelation – that is in the context of the Roman
Empire being the superpower. As the text states the woman a city sitting on
seven hills (Revelation 17:9,18) the Preterist would logically say she must be
Rome.

Historicism interprets the woman in terms of the whole flow of world history,
especially concerning Europe and the morphing of the old Roman Empire into
the Holy Roman Empire. They would see the woman as the Vatican, the home
of Roman Catholicism, embodied in the Pope himself.

Idealism interprets the woman as merely a symbol of evil and not a literal
person or place.

Futurism sees the woman as an end time city that represents a whole system
of money and pleasure (maybe also a religious center but that is not so clear
from the text). One city that meets these criteria is Brussels, the center of the
European Union. It is among 51 cities in the world that sits on seven hills (others
being Rome, Jerusalem, Mecca, Istanbul and Tehran). This ties in with other
prophecies that the Antichrist (the Beast on which the woman rides) will come
forth from a revived Roman Empire (the EU actually seeing itself as such). We
will look more into who this woman is when we come to lesson 10.

Many people make Revelation say what they want it to – this is not good Bible
interpretation. We need to let it speak for itself and read out of rather than into
the text.

b. Vista of Revelation

In their endeavor to interpret Revelation many scholars have come up with

elaborate and complicated charts that confuse the reader. The main
purpose of Revelation is not to give a complicated and detailed outline of
end time events but to prepare the church for what is ahead and infuse us
with hope knowing the end of His story. I have thrown such elaborate
diagrams into the bin and hope to come up with a more simple and
understandable outline within the context of the actual purpose of this letter.

“Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the
things which will take place after this.” Rev 1:19 (NKJV).

This verse gives the natural OUTLINE of the Revelation.

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1. The things which you have seen (Chapter 1) – A revelation of the risen Christ
(see the picture).

2. The things which are (Chapters 2-3) – The state of the seven churches.

3. The things which will take place after this (Chapters 5-22) – End time events.

This is the outline I will be using during this series, looking at the 7 Churches,
7 Seals, 7 Trumpets, 7 Signs, 7 Bowls, 7 Dooms and 7 New Things.

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c. Value of Revelation

Revelation is very valuable to us as it:

i. Is ultimately a revelation of JESUS Himself (Revelation 1:1).

a. He is the righteous JUDGE (Revelation 1:12-15)

“Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning
I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one
like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around
his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow.
His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze,
refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In
his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-
edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.”

We should FEAR Him.

b. He is the sacrificial SAVIOUR (Revelation 5:6)

“And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the
elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven
horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out
into all the earth.”

We should THANK Him.

c. He is the almighty GOD (Revelation 15:3-4)

“And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of
the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the
Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will
not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All
nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been
revealed.”
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We should EXALT Him.

d. He is the kingly BRIDEGROOM (Revelation 19:7-10)

“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the
Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was
granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is
the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are
those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said
to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” And I fell at his feet to
worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your
fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus.
Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

We should LOVE Him.

ii. Was written to show us the FULFILLMENT of all things.

Genesis reveals to us the beginnings of all things and Revelation shows

us the ending and consummation of all things. Without this letter to end
all Scripture we would have the little letter of Jude that speaks into a
second-generation church that is riddled with false doctrine.

iii. Was written for ORDINARY people.

Two thirds of those living in the area of the seven churches mentioned
in this letter were slaves in the Roman Empire. This letter was written to

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simple folk and not sophisticated scholars. It is the scholars that have
messed it up and made it inaccessible to those who should be blessed
by it. There is a story about a group of seminary students who were going
through Revelation in their lecture and went for a break to the basketball
court (to rest from the complicated teaching). The simply educated
caretaker was waiting for them to finish so he could lock up and he was
reading the Bible. One student asked what he was reading, and he said,
“Revelation sir!” The student was amazed and said, “Do you understand
it?” “Oh yes!” said the caretaker, “Jesus wins!” Really that is the
message of revelation in a nutshell. Though things will get a lot worse
before they get a lot better, ultimately Revelation is a message of hope.

iv. Was written to fill people with HOPE so they will be motivated to
holiness.

The central and key verse of the letter is “Here is the patience of the
saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith
of Jesus.” Rev 14:12 (NKJV).

God’s people are to patiently endure all the terrible things to come in
holiness because something much better is waiting for them. It is
ultimately a book of hope where we are told the final outcome. Jesus
won, the devil nil! We need to be on the side of Jesus and patiently play
the game according to the rules and we are guaranteed victory!

v. Is a Call for Christians to ENDURE to the end as overcomers.

Revelation is not just about surviving the terrible things to come in the
end times but being an overcomer in the midst of them (“And he who
overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power
over the nations.” Revelation 2:26 (NKJV)).

3. Conclusion

The main message of Revelation can be summed up by the two words:

OVERCOME and ENDURE.

Overcome what? Endure what? That’s what we will find out in the following
lessons of this series.

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PART TWO: LETTERS FROM JESUS

1. Introduction:

“John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace
from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven
Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness,
the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him
who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood and has made
us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen” Revelation 1:4-6 (NKJV)

Revelation is first and foremost a LETTER.

The Apostle John had a network of seven Churches in Western Asia Minor
(modern day western Turkey) that he made a circuit of regularly before he
was exiled onto the island of Patmos. Revelation would have been sent to
these churches initially.

This introductory note shows the entire book of Revelation was firstly written
to all the seven churches as an encouragement to be overcomers in the
troubled times through the blood of Jesus.

There is one section where there are specific letters just for each of the
seven churches (Chapters 2 and 3). These seven letters are directly from
Jesus Himself, dictated to John who wrote them down. No other letters of
the New Testament were so directly from Jesus as these were.

In this lesson we are looking at the first two divisions – the things John saw
and the things which were real concerning the churches at his time. We are
particularly looking at the seven letters to the seven churches.

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A Revelation of Jesus

Revelation 1:9-20 is the awesome revelation of JESUS that the church

needs to have to endure the tribulation to come. The judge first walks among
the churches – judgment comes first to the house of God before it comes
upon the world (1 Peter 4:17). He comes to make sure the lamps are burning
brightly in all the churches because this will need to be the case for them to
endure the trials to come.

Chapter one of Revelation shows us the initial vision of John as he was in

the Spirit.

“I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom
and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the
word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the
Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, "I
am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," and, "What you see,
write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to
Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia,
and to Laodicea." Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And
having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven
lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the
feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were
white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet
were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of
many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went
a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in
its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His
right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the
Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.
Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death. Write the things which
you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take
place after this. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right
hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of
the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the
seven churches.” Revelation 1:9-20 (NKJV)

His vision is amazing. He sees Jesus like he’s never seen Him before,
standing in the midst of seven menorah (Jewish lamp stands). John was
considered to be the closest disciple of Jesus and probably knew him better
than the others. However, here he sees Jesus as the Righteous Judge. He
is dressed just like a Roman judge of that time but even grander and far
more powerful. As a result, John falls to the feet of Jesus as one dead. The
one he thought he knew so well he hardly knew at all.

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This is the awesome revelation of Jesus that the church needs to have to
endure the tribulation to come. The judge first walks among the churches –
judgment comes first to the house of God before it comes upon the world (1
Peter 4:17). He comes to make sure the lamps are burning brightly in all the
churches because this will need to be the case for them to endure the trials
to come.

The seven stars in Jesus’ right hand are the seven angels of the seven
churches. This shows us that every church has at least one angel assigned
to it. Opinion differs as to whether this angel is merely a human messenger
(the meaning of the greek word angelos) or an actual angelic messenger.
This angel assists the church in being a bright shining witness, if the church
allows it to do so! Notice that each letter to each church is firstly addressed
to this angel.

Jesus tells us we are not to judge by appearance (John 7:24). What may
look beautiful and full of life may actually be dead, such as a beautiful
butterfly in a museum collection!

Jesus sees the churches as they really are not as they APPEAR. Some of
the churches that appeared so alive in man’s estimation (such as Sardis)
were actually dead in God’s eyes.

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2. Seven Letters to Seven Churches:

a. What was so special about these churches that Jesus Himself

dictated special letters to them?

i. This was a key area for the APOSTLES, especially Paul (three years
in Ephesus) and John (ministered in a circuit to all the seven
churches). Philip was killed here.

ii. This area was an important centre of TRADE and CULTURE at the
time of the apostles. Money was first made here at Sardis (in the
reign of King Croesus) and the dotted routes represent important
trade routes used at that time (linking Europe to Asia and Africa).

Culturally, this was the cultural centre of the earth at that time. Three of the
seven wonders of the ancient world were in this area – The Temple of Artemis
(Diana) in Ephesus, The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus and the Colossus of
Rhodes.

It was an area of great Greek/Roman influence and where the religions

of the east and west met.

iii. Satan’s HEADQUARTERS was here in PERGAMUM.

Satan is not omnipresent as God is. He roams the earth when he is not
in the second heaven and needs a base of operation. At the time of
John that base of operation was Pergamum. It is at Pergamum that
Satan’s Throne was and where Satan dwelt (Revelation 2:13). Most
scholars identify the Throne of Zeus as being Satan’s Throne. This was
a seat shaped altar to Zeus placed prominently on the highest place
overlooking Pergamum. It was here that those considered traitors to
Rome were killed (and probably where Antipas was martyred – 2:13). In
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the early twentieth century this altar was moved to Berlin just as Hitler
was rising to power!

As you can see from the map, Pergamum was strategic as it was at the
northernmost part of the trade routes bringing goods, knowledge and
wealth from Europe. Satan would have wanted to make sure that only
those things that would further his plans should be allowed through.

There are three zones that the seven churches may be divided into –
those closest to Satan’s base (Pergamum, Thyatira and Sardis), those
further away (Smyrna and Philadelphia) and those furthest away
(Ephesus and Laodicea). Remember, by AD95 at the time of John’s
writing these were all second-generation churches and Satan had been
diligently attacking them during this time.

Zone 1 (closest to Satan’s base) – Pergamum, Thyatira and Sardis

Churches here were corrupt from THE INSIDE by idolatry and IMMORALITY

Looking at the descriptions of the churches at Pergamum, Thyatira and Sardis

you see that they had been attacked by agents of Satan from within. They were
corrupted from inside by idolatry and immorality, but they still seemed to be
functioning somewhat as lights in their community as not all had succumbed to
Satan’s attack. Pergamum was infected with the Doctrine of Balaam (2:14)
leading them to eat with the pagans of the things offered to idols and lie with
the temple prostitutes in sexual immortality. Thyatira was infected by the
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doctrine of Jezebel leading the people to do the same as those in Pergamum

(2:20). Sardis was infected by a spirit of death and stupor from within leading
to some having defiled garments (3:4). These characteristics can particularly
be seen today in the churches in the developing nations.

Zone 2 (further away from Satan’s base) – Smyrna and Philadelphia

Churches here were suffering PERSECUTION from OUTSIDE (Jews).

Both Smyrna and Philadelphia were far enough away from Satan’s base of
operation so as to not be infiltrated directly from within by his minions. However,
they were being attacked from without. Both of these churches were suffering
great persecution from the synagogue of Satan (Revelation 2:9 and 3:9),
probably meaning that they were being persecuted by the Jewish leaders in
their city. As we will see, these two churches had the best report of all and are
only commended by Jesus. Persecuted churches tend to have the purest form
of Christianity and also need the most encouragement. These characteristics
can particularly be seen today in the churches in the persecuted nations.

Zone 3 (furthest away from Satan’s base) – Ephesus and Laodicea

Satan not bothered as these churches are DESTROYING themselves.

Jesus has the most criticism for the last two churches, which are furthest away
from Satan’s base of operations. Indeed, Satan is not attacking these two
churches from within or from without as they are actually destroying themselves
without his help! The churches at Ephesus and Laodicea were the first churches
to be established in this area and were the wealthiest and biggest of all. They
were the mega-churches of their day. The Church at Ephesus was the first
Church to be established here by the Apostle Paul and all the other churches
had been planted by their witness. However, now the church had impressive
activities but no real love (2:4). Without love they had lost their dynamic witness
in the community. The church at Laodicea had become lukewarm in its witness
to the community and though it was a rich church was really poor, blind and
naked (3:17) in Jesus’ eyes. Indeed, Jesus was not even attending the
meetings in this church as they made Him sick and he was outside knocking on
their church door (3:20)! These characteristics can particularly be seen today
in the churches in the developed nations.

See the following picture that summarizes the above.

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b. Seven parts to each letter.

ADDRESSEE – Who the letter is addressed to. In this case the

addressees are the seven churches that John ministered to.

ADDRESSER – Who the letter is from. In every case this is Jesus

but He revealed one aspect or name that they most needed.

APPROVAL – Jesus speaks words or encouragement and

approval (if there are any) before moving into accusation.

ACCUSATION – Jesus does not mince His words but shows

things as they really are, revealing the true state of each church.

ADVICE – Jesus does not accuse without giving a solution. He

gives practical advice of how to overcome the problems.

ASSURANCE – Jesus gives beautiful assurances to those who

overcome at the end of each letter.

APPEAL – Each letter end with an appeal to he who has ears to

really hear His message and act upon it.

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d. Real Places, Real Issues

Each of the letters was written to real churches with real issues. Jesus
understood the churches inside out and used language that they could
easily identify with. He used terms that were unique to their environments
and history. For example, Jesus promised a crown of life to those in the
church at Smyrna (modern day Izmir) that faithfully endured the persecution.
This would have meant a lot to the Christian in Smyrna as the hills
surrounding the city were called The Crown of Smyrna. These hills were
lined with the pagan temples and buildings and maybe even the Synagogue
that caused so much of their persecution.

Place Insight
Ephesus This was one of largest cities in the Mediterranean and a key
centre for travel and commerce. Ephesus was famed for the
Temple of Artemis (Diana) and Library of Celsus. It was the
‘Gateway of Asia’.

Smyrna This is the only city that still is inhabited with an existing
church. All other places are now uninhabited ruins. The
mountains around the city were called “The Crown of Smyrna”.

Pergamum This city had a large complex to Asclepius, the god of healing
and was considered a wonder of the world in Paul’s time. The
Altar of Zeus was here at highest point.

Thyatira Thyatira was famous for her brass guilds Jesus showed
himself to the Thyatiran church as one with feet like fine brass
(2:18), who had come to judge their false doctrine!

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Sardis Sardis was once the strongest city of this area under King
Croesus. The king thought the Acropolis Stronghold to be
impenetrable and so only posted a few guards there. However,
the Persian King Cyrus sent spies who saw one guard drop
his helmet down the steep cliff side guarding the city. They
then saw the guard use footholds to descend to get the helmet
and ascend again into the Stronghold. With this knowledge the
armies of Cyrus came and took the city! In the same way the
Christians of Sardis had dropped their guard and their helmets
of salvation, assuming their faith was alive and kicking
whereas it was on the point of death!

Philadelphia In 17AD there was a huge earthquake that virtually leveled the
city, but one huge pillar remained that still remains to this day.
Jesus was probably referring to this when he promised that the
Overcoming Christians of Philadelphia would be a “pillar in the
Temple of My God” (3:12).

Laodicea The best example of how well Jesus knew the churches and
their environments is His letter to the Laodiceans. When He
said they were neither hot nor cold but lukewarm and therefore
made Him sick, He was speaking in language that would be
very powerful to them. Laodicea had no water source of its
own and they built an extensive water pipe system (today you
can see the ruins of this) to channel water from elsewhere.

The two main places they got water from were the hot
mountain springs of Hierapolis and the cool, refreshing waters
of Colossae. However, in both cases, by the time the water
reached Laodicea it was lukewarm and contaminated by bitter
minerals that made people sick if they drank it as it came. They
needed to boil the water first before they drank it. So, when
Jesus said He wished they were either hot or cold does not
mean He wished they were either zealous for Him (hot) or
hardened and cold towards Him. He wished they we either like
the healing hot springs waters of Hierapolis or the refreshing
cool waters of Colossae. Also, Laodicea was famous for its
wealth (gold), textiles (white garments) and medicine
(especially eye salve). So, when Jesus called them “poor,
naked and blind” (3:17), needing to buy refined heavenly gold
from Him, white garments of righteousness and anoint their
eyes with spiritual eye salve (3:18), they would have really got
the message!

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e. What did Jesus say?

This chart condenses what I have already been talking about. The men holding
the “X” represent criticism and accusation from Jesus. The men holding the tick
represent approval and praise from Jesus. As you can see two churches only
get a big “X” (Ephesus and Laodicea), only two churches get a big tick (Smyrna
and Philadelphia) and the other three get a mixed reception.

Notice that Jesus introduces Himself to each church with the name that they
most need –

Ephesus: Jesus comes as the one who “walks in the midst of the Candlesticks”
as they most need His loving presence.

Smyrna: Jesus comes as He “which was dead and is alive” as they need
comfort in the face of persecution and death.

Pergamum: Jesus comes as “He which has the sharp sword” as they need the
double-edged sword of the Word against false doctrine.

Thyatira: Jesus comes as “The Son of God with eyes of fire and feet of brass”
because they need a Judge.

Sardis: Jesus comes as “He that has the seven spirits” as they need the life of
the Spirit of God.

Philadelphia: Jesus comes as “He that is holy and true” as then need to keep
on in holiness and truth.
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Laodicea: Jesus comes as “the faithful witness” as they need to be faithful

witnesses.

3. Conclusion:

This final chart summarizes Jesus’ message to each church. Today every
church on the face of the planet is like one or more of these churches and needs
to heed the advice of Jesus. Notice that to all the churches, except those being
persecuted, Jesus’ message was the same – REPENT!

Notice also that He does not counsel them to leave their church and go to a
better one, but to stay and be an agent of change.

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PART THREE: THE SCROLL OPENER

1. Introduction:

After the messages to the seven churches John is taken up in the Spirit to the
Heavenly Throne Room where he sees a tremendous spectacle. The main
emphasis of his vision revolves around a scroll with seven seals that only one
is worthy to open.

We now come into the section “the things which will take place after this” as the
seven seals of the scroll represent events that were to take place after John
received this revelation. The question is how soon or how long after John’s time
did or do these events transpire? We will look at this in the next lesson. This
lesson looks at who is worthy to open this scroll and so set the end time events
in motion.

A Vision of Heaven

“After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And
the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come
up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."
Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One
sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone
in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like
an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones
I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of
gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings,
and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the
seven Spirits of God. Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal.

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And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living
creatures full of eyes in front and in back.” Revelation 4:1-6 (NKJV)

The key word of this section is THRONE (used 16 times in 2 chapters)

The main message is that God is on the Throne and in total CONTROL. Though
bad things are about to happen they can only happen as God allows them. This
truth is vividly seen in the story of Job where Satan has to go to God to get
permission to harm Job. Satan can only operate where men leave an open door
for him to do so or God gives His go ahead as in the case of Job (see Job 1:10-
12).

The 24 elders represent the heads of the twelve Tribes of ISRAEL and the
twelve APOSTLES. They represent all of God’s people through history showing
that in the face of the terrible events happening on earth God’s people should
be before the throne worshipping God as Overcomers! They will be safe and
secure under the shadow of His wings as they do so, even if He allows them to
go through great persecution and even martyrdom.

Notice that John sees this vision when he is taken up in the SPIRIT. It is when
we are living in the Spirit, sealed by the Spirit, that we will be safe in His
presence even in the midst of Great Tribulation.

The four living creatures are representatives of all CREATION which joins in
the praise of God and also groans awaiting the revelation of the sons of God
(Romans 8:22). These creatures are a mix between the Seraphim of Isaiah 6
(having six wings) and the Cherubim in Ezekiel 1 and 10 who are guardians of

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the presence of God on the Throne. They are probably metaphors for angelic
beings.

2. The Scroll with Seven Seals:

a. What is the scroll?

In Chapter five we are introduced to a scroll with seven seals. A seal was a flat
round wax or clay lock that either sealed the scroll directly on its surface or via
strings as we see in the picture. The seal had the image or emblem of the one
giving the authority to carry out the contents of the scroll. Scrolls usually
contained special messages or commands.

For a scroll to have seven seals marked it as a LEGAL document, probably a

last will and testament as we see in the following picture:

To open the scroll, someone first must break all seven seals. More than a few
interpreters go awry here by failing to realize this rather fundamental point: The
seals are not the contents of the scroll! They are preliminary events that must
happen before the contents can be fully read. The sealed scroll in Revelation 5
is the last will and testament of God Himself. In it are the names of the heirs
and a description of their inheritance. Before the heirs receive their inheritance,
certain events must first unfold (the events outlined in the seven seals).

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Therefore, it is possible that this scroll is the Book of LIFE itself with the names
of the saved and their inheritance. The amazing thing is that it will be opened
by none other than the one who wrote this will in His blood – one who died and
rose again. This is the only time that a last will and testament will be opened
and read by the one who died!

This scroll may be the same as that in Daniel 12:4-9:

“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the
end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Then I, Daniel,
looked; and there stood two others, one on this riverbank and the other on
that riverbank. And one said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the
waters of the river, “How long shall the fulfillment of these wonders be?” Then I
heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when
he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who
lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the
power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall
be finished. Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, “My lord,
what shall be the end of these things?” And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for
the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”

This refers to a scroll that Daniel sealed up and will be fully opened at the end
of the Great Tribulation time (we will look at this later) and relates to arising into
our inheritance (Daniel 12:13) as the righteous ones when Jesus returns after
the rule of the Antichrist.

Note that the scroll has writing on both sides, meaning some can be seen before
the seals are open. This could mean that we can see our names written on the
outer side of the book of life and can be assured of our salvation. The inner side
would then contain our rewards when Christ returns.

b. Who is the scroll opener?

John wept when he thought there was no one to open God’s last will and
testament because this meant there would be no inheritance for His people.
However, there is one who is worthy to open the scroll.

“But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe
of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its
seven seals." And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the
four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it
had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven
Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out
of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.” Revelation 5:5-7(NKJV)

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The one who is worthy to open the scroll is or course JESUS, the Lamb of God
(John 1:29) and the Lion of Judah (Genesis 49:9-10). As the Lamb of God, He
has become the once and for all sacrifice for our sins and bought our salvation.
As the Lion of Judah, He has overcome the dark rule of the roaring lion Satan
so that that we may be brought into his Kingdom of light. Jesus, because of his
life, death and resurrection is worthy to open the Book of Life and save His
people, giving them an inheritance with Him. His is the High King and High
Priest worthy to make us kings and priests!

c. What do the seals and scroll reveal?

Seals = EVENTS before scroll is opened

Scroll = Names of HEIRS and their inheritance

“Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-
four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls
full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song,
saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; For You were
slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue
and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; And we
shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:8-10

If we believe in Him then He has truly made us “KINGS AND PRIESTS” and
we will reign with Him (5:10). This truth will cause us to join the four living
creatures and twenty-four elders in singing this song of praise; “You are worthy
to take the scroll”. The Bible says that presently all believers are sealed by the
Holy Spirit awaiting the fullness of His inheritance (Ephesians 1:12-14) and so,

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by the Spirit, we can praise and rejoice in Him even when times of great trial
come.

The book of life will be opened and read out when Jesus RETURNS and the
righteous are caught up in the air to be with Him. He will give the saved new
resurrection bodies and then bless them with rewards – an inheritance of ruling
and reigning with Him for a thousand years on earth (Revelation 20:4). But
before all this can take place the seven seals must be opened and each one
marks terrible events that we will look at in the next part.

3. Conclusion

This whole section teaches us that:

i. God the Father is REIGNING.

ii. Jesus Christ has REDEEMED.

iii. The Holy Spirit brings REVELATION.

From Chapter 4 and 5 of Revelation we see that even though things are going
to get worse in the end times Father God is reigning and in control. Jesus has
redeemed those who believe and is worthy to give them the fullness of their
inheritance. All this is possible by the seal of the Holy Spirit in our lives who
brings this revelation and gives us hope.

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the
spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your
understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His
calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”
Ephesians 1:17-18 (NKJV)

Those who live in the Spirit will know that Father God is in control and that they
are saved by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ. Only these will endure
tribulation to the end to rule and reign with Him after the wrath of God is poured
out.

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PART FOUR: THE SEVEN SEALS

1. Introduction:

A little girl came home from Sunday school saying to her Mum, “Mummy, teacher
says that Jesus can make big animals come out of smaller ones”. Bemused, her
mother asked what she meant to which the girl replied, “Yes, she told us that Jesus
opened up seven seals and four horses came out of four of them!”

We have learnt that the seven seals are not aquatic animals, but they are
METAPHORS for events that must transpire before Jesus returns to apportion out
His inheritance to the saints. In this lesson we will look at what these seven seal
events are and when they happen.

We will see that the first six seals actually release the wrath of SATAN on mankind
and the Seventh seal releases the Trumpet and Bowl plagues that represent the
wrath of God to be poured out before the Book of Life can finally be opened and
read out.

2. The Seven Seals

i. Events of the Seven Seals

We will now look at a picture that visually describes the events unleashed by the
seven seals.

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- The first four seals release the four HORSEMEN of the Apocalypse

These are foreshadowed now but will probably be opened by Jesus when the
Antichrist negotiates a peace treaty in Israel for seven years (Daniel 9:24-27).

Horseman 1 = ANTICHRIST (White)

Horseman 2 = WAR (Red)

Horseman 3 = FAMINE AND ECONOMIC TROUBLE (Black)

Horseman 4 = DEATH BY WAR, FAMINE & PESTILENCE (Pale)

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The first four seals release the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, bringing with
them the Antichrist, wars, famine and epidemics. Some identify the first horseman
as Jesus as he is a king riding a white horse going out to conquer. However, this
king is holding a bow whereas Jesus is pictured having a sword (Revelation 19:11-
16) and if we compare with Matthew 24 we see that prophetically it is a false Christ
(Antichrist) that precedes war, famine and epidemics. Also he is only wearing one
crown (stephanos – conquerors laurel wreath) whereas Jesus returns wearing
many crowns (Revelation 19:12 - diadema – royal crown). Indeed, it seems to be
the arrival of the Antichrist that triggers the next three horsemen representing war
(Red horse), famine and economic trouble (Black horse) and finally death by war,
famine and pestilence (Pale horse). This pattern can be seen through history – a
conqueror comes, bringing warfare that leads to famine and eventually plagues
that kill many. The Mongol invasion of Eastern Europe is a prime example of this.
After their invasion there was famine due to their destruction of crops and animals
and they brought with them the type of rat that triggered the Black Death in the
fourteenth century that killed a third of the people in Europe.

If the first horseman is the Antichrist, then this marks a future event when the
Antichrist comes on the scene. He will make a covenant of peace in Israel for seven
years (one possible interpretation of Daniel 9:27) but this will trigger wars, famine
and plagues around the world, probably due to radical elements angry at the peace
agreement.

- Seal five marks a turning point in the rule of the Antichrist when he will
PERSECUTE many saints who do not worship him.

Half way through the seven-year peace treaty in Israel the Antichrist will break his
word (Daniel 9:27) and march into Jerusalem with his armies to take over the
Temple (that will have been rebuilt), setting up an abominable image (probably of
himself – see Daniel 9:27 and Matthew 24:15). From this time on he will demand
worship and persecute all those that do not bow down to him. Inevitably the true
believers at this time will refuse to worship him and be greatly persecuted and even
martyred. That is why we see many souls of the martyrs under the altar in heaven
with the opening of the fifth seal. They are the souls of believers who will be
persecuted and killed for their faith in the second half of the seven-year Tribulation.

This period is called the Great TRIBULATION.

Notice these are the souls of the martyrs not with resurrected bodies and so it is
before the resurrection of the dead in Christ. These martyrs cry out to be avenged
– they do not want to get revenge themselves, but they cry out for God’s
vengeance.

Many commentators have linked these martyrs with the Christians martyred under
the reign of the Roman Emperors. From Nero to Diocletian there were ten periods
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of intense persecution and martyrdom of Christians, but all these were

foreshadowing the Great Tribulation martyrdom yet to come. It has been estimated
that more Christians were martyred in the 20th Century than in the previous 1,900
years combined, yet the martyrdom during the Great Tribulation will be the worst
ever seen.

- The Sixth Seal releases a COSMIC event along with a great earthquake.

The sun and moon will be darkened (Revelation 6:12) causing a great blackout
and meteors will fall to the earth (stars fall from heaven). There will be huge land
mass displacement (every mountain and island was moved out of its place) as the
sky will appear to be rolled up as a scroll (Revelation 6:14), which some
commentators identify as the visual effect of a nuclear bomb. Whatever these
events actually are they mark a transition from the wrath of the Antichrist to the
wrath of God – “For the great day of His wrath has come” (Revelation 6:17). During
the wrath of the Antichrist (in the Great Tribulation) it is the saints that run to the
wilderness to find refuge in the mountain caves, but at this time it will be all the
wicked men and women, especially the rulers and rich, who will flee from the wrath
of God into the mountains (Revelation 6:15-16) but they will not escape.

This event is called the Great BLACKOUT.

This seal marks the beginning of the pouring out of GOD’S wrath.

In between the great blackout and the opening of the seventh seal there is a vision
of the 144,000 and a great multitude in heaven (Chapter 7).

There has been fierce debate as to who the 144,000 are, the Jehovah Witnesses
saying it is them (even though there are over 3 million JWs). Some interpreters say
the number is not literal but is symbolic of all Christians. Some say it is a literal
144,000 who are the special, called out overcoming Christians.

A literal reading of this chapter shows us that the 144,000 is made up of 12,000
from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. Literally this would make these 144,000
Jews. They are sealed on their foreheads, so they will not be touched by the wrath
of God that is about to be poured out (Trumpet and Bowl judgments). As they are
called “servants of our God” (v3) it is highly likely that these are messianic Jews,
Jews who believe in Jesus as their Messiah. This means there will be a great
revival among the Jews at this time.

Notice that the 12 tribes listed here is slightly different to previous lists in the Bible.

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Jacob (Israel) had twelve sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad,
Asher, Issachar, Zebulon, Joseph, and Benjamin (Genesis 29:32 - 30:24 and
Genesis 35:18). However, the twelve tribes turned into thirteen when Jacob gave
Joseph a “double portion”. This meant that each of his two sons, Ephraim and
Manasseh, became a tribe, rather than just the one tribe of Joseph (Genesis 48:5).
However, this thirteen became twelve again as the tribe of Levi received no land.
The Levites were only given certain cities and was the tribe of the priesthood who
received the tithes of the other twelve tribes who tithed from their land.

Therefore, the difference between the first and second column is that Joseph was
split into Ephraim and Manasseh, while Levi was dedicated to the Lord. In
Revelation Levi is very conspicuously brought back alongside of the others.
Obviously, this is very symbolic, indicating that this priesthood is over. Now,
bringing Levi back is effectively going back to the time before Jacob gave Joseph
the double portion, so technically Dan should still be on the list and Ephraim and
Manasseh should not, being that they are already represented in Joseph! Truly this
is odd and must have some symbolic meaning.

If we assume Dan is removed due to its idolatry (Judges 18:30-31), then Manasseh
is added to fill Dan’s place to keep the number twelve.

Another plausible explanation for the replacement of the tribe of Dan by the tribe
of Levi is that Dan will take over Levi’s ministry of judging Israel in the millennial
kingdom in accordance with the prophecy of Jacob that “Dan shall judge his
people”.

Then John sees a “great multitude which no one could number, of all nations,
peoples and tongues” (v9). Who are these? One of the Twenty-Four Elders gives
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the answer, “these are the ones who come out of great tribulation and washed their
robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (v14) – they are the Great
Tribulation Martyrs John saw the souls of at the opening of the Fifth Seal. This
shows us that the number of Christians martyred during the Great Tribulation under
the rule of the Antichrist will be uncountable!

Some people say this great multitude represents the raptured Christians after the
Great Tribulation and before the wrath of God is poured out (a pre-wrath rapture).
This is possible but the vision of this great multitude seems to fulfill the vision of
Revelation 6:11 of the martyrs awaiting the full number, wearing the same white
robes mentioned in the same passage.

- The Seventh Seal marks the actual pouring out of God’s WRATH in the
Trumpet and Bowl judgments. We will look at this more in the next lesson.

ii. Parallels with Matthew 24

One key to interpreting the timing and meaning of the events in the seven seals is
the Olivet Discourse of Jesus found in Matthew 24. Here Jesus is telling the
disciples the signs of His second coming, the events that will unfold before He
returns.

“For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.
And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all
these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against
nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and
earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then they
will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for
My name's sake.” Matthew 24:5-9 (NKJV)

Verses 5 to 8 seem to outline the coming of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse
with many foreshadowing events being seen first before the real thing appears.
Jesus said there would be false Christs followed by wars, famine, pestilences and
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earthquakes. All these things will come to a head with the unveiling of The
Antichrist. They are called the “beginning of sorrows” and come before the Great
Tribulation.

Verses 9-26 outline the Great Tribulation (see v21) where the Antichrist will set up
an abominable image in the Temple and there will be a time of great martyrdom of
Christians where even their own family members will betray them. However, also
during this time will be a great missionary thrust where the gospel of the kingdom
will be preached in the entire world (Matthew 24:14) as Christians endure great
suffering until the very end (v13) when Christ returns. During this time God’s people
will flee into the wilderness to be provided for by God Himself.

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the
moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the
heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven,
and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man
coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His
angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from
the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:29-31 (NKJV)

The Great Blackout is also mentioned in Matthew 24:29 as coming straight after
the Great Tribulation. This parallels the events mentioned in Revelation 6:12
happening at the opening of the Sixth Seal.

The Seventh Seal is also mentioned here as the time when Jesus comes with the
angels to gather the elect, presumably after all of God’s wrath has been poured
out.

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iii. The Day of the Lord

As an aside, it is interesting to note that the Old Testament prophets looked forward
to a time called the Day of the Lord where the wicked were judged and the
righteous receive ultimate salvation. Although they prophesied in the first instance
about God’s coming judgment of Babylon for its destruction of Jerusalem and the
return of the Jews to their land, there was an end time element to their prophecies.
Both Isaiah and Joel mentioned the Day of the Lord coming with a great blackout
that has not yet been witnessed:

“Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, to
lay the land desolate; and He will destroy its sinners from it. For the stars of heaven
and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be darkened in its going
forth, and the moon will not cause its light to shine.” Isaiah 13:9-10 (NKJV)

“The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming
of the great and awesome day of the LORD. And it shall come to pass that whoever
calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Joel 2:31-32 (NKJV)

They are prophetically looking forward to the time of the Great Blackout that occurs
after the Great Tribulation prophesied in Daniel and Revelation.

The Day of the Lord is where the wicked are JUDGED and the righteous receive
ultimate salvation.

The Day of the Lord happens after a Great BLACKOUT, linking with the teaching
of Revelation (See Isaiah 13:3-9 and Joel 2:31-32).

This is The Great Day of the Lord that Old Testament prophecy ultimately points
to with judgment on all wickedness and salvation of all the righteous. The Day itself
is actually 1000 years (as a day to the Lord is a thousand years – 2 Peter 3:8) from
the second coming of Christ until the coming of the new heaven and new earth.

3. Conclusion: The Chain of Events

From what we have learnt in this lesson we can build a picture of the events that
will transpire in the End Times. The chart on the next page shows that the first six
seals outline the wrath of the Antichrist but the last seal marks the wrath of God
with the Trumpet and Bowl judgments. The next lesson will look at the events of
the Seventh Seal.

The first five seals are the wrath of SATAN.

The sixth seal marks the start of the wrath of GOD.

The diagrams on the next page summarize the teachings of this lesson. The first
outlining the events of each seal (one to seven), and the second showing the two
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divisions of the outpouring of the Antichrist’s wrath and the outpouring of God’s
wrath.

Take time to examine both diagrams on the following page.

The first five seals are the wrath of THE ANTI CHRIST

The sixth seal marks the start of the wrath of GOD

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PART FIVE: TRUMPETS AND BOWLS

1. Introduction:

If the seven seals show us the final wrath of Satan through the Antichrist the
seven trumpets and bowls show us the wrath of God poured out at the end of
this age.

The descriptions of the seven trumpet and bowl judgments sandwich the seven
signs that, as we shall see, show what happens in the time leading up to and
during the period of the outpouring of God’s wrath revealed in the trumpet and
bowl plagues.

During this lesson we will examine the chronological relationship between the
seven seals, trumpets and bowls and I will share my own personal view.

The Prayers of the Saints

“Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. And
he was given much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all the
saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne…… Then the angel
took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth.”
Revelation 8:3, 5 (NKJV)

The wrath of God is poured out in response to the PRAYERS of the saints.

Notice that the trumpet judgments are specifically termed the wrath of God.
Revelation 6:17, just before the opening of the seventh seal, announces “For
the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand.”

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Notice also that here we see that the wrath of God is poured out in response to
the prayers of the saints. In Revelation 6:10 we hear the martyrs from the Great
Tribulation asking how long it will be until their blood is avenged. Here their
prayer is answered. We can pray for vengeance but not exact it as vengeance
is the Lords (Deuteronomy 32:35).

2. The Seven Trumpets and Seven Bowls

We now come to the question of the ordering of the seven seals, trumpets and
bowls. How are they related chronologically? Interpreters are divided in this and
there are four main theories with many other spin-off ideas.

i. Possible ordering of the seven seals, trumpets and bowls.

Firstly, is the theory that all three occur CONCURRENTLY, that is all at the
same time. However, this does not seem to agree with the text as there does
seem to be a chronological flow in Revelation that divides the time of the wrath
of the Antichrist (the Great Tribulation) from the time of the Wrath of God, which
marks the start of the prophesied end time Day of the Lord.

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Secondly is the theory that all occur SUCCESSIVELY, that is one after the other.
This would account for the apparent chronological ordering of Revelation but has
some problems. There are certain events that seem to be the same but described
in more than one place in Revelation, such as the great earthquake that occurs
with the seventh seal (6:12), trumpet (11:19) and bowl (16:18). In other words,
there does seem to be some overlapping of certain events and these must be
reconciled.

Thirdly is the theory of a MIXTURE of the first two theories. That is, the first six of
each series does indeed follow on successively from the previous series but the
seventh of each series speaks of the same events. This would certainly
compensate for the apparent mention of the same event with the seventh seal,
trumpet and bowl but it also seems to chop up the sequence mentioned in
Revelation in a rather abrupt and forced way.

Fourth is the theory that the trumpet and bowl judgment are actually the SAME
events and follow on successively after the seven seals. This is the theory I hold
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to as it seems to make the most sense and follow the text more accurately. The
four reasons I believe this are:

1. Trumpet judgments end with His KINGDOM coming (11:5).

It would be very strange for God to pour out another set of His wrath after
establishing His Kingdom on earth. Similarly, the seven bowls end with the
statement “It is done” (16:17) which seems to point to the end of one age and
the coming of His Kingdom on earth.

2. Common Jewish practice to have 2 or 3 WITNESSES.

Indeed, we see the two witnesses talked about at the end of the seven trumpets.
These two accounts could simply be witnessing to exactly the same series of
events.

3. Great SIMILARITIES between Trumpet and Bowl judgments.

There are, as we shall see, great similarities between the Trumpet and Bowl
judgments. As has been mentioned they both end in a great earthquake but
differ to the ending of the seven seals in that they also end with thundering and
great hail (11:19 and 16:18-21).

4. Trumpets BLOW and then bowls are POURED out.

It would be very logical for trumpets and bowls to come together in that the
trumpet would sound a warning and then the corresponding bowl would be
poured out at the same time.

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Hence, I would say that the seven trumpets and bowls witness the same events
that mark the start of the Day of the Lord. As we shall see the seven signs speak
of events leading up to and/or during this outpouring of God’s wrath, all within
the last three and a half years of this present age.

For the reasons given I believe that the chart below best represents the ordering
of events in the last seven-year period of this age. The first six seals represent
the time of the Antichrist with his wrath upon the nations, especially upon
believers. The seventh seal marks the start of the pouring out of the wrath of
God (after the Great Blackout of the sixth seal). The pouring out of the wrath of
God marks the start of the great Day of the Lord as we shall see later. I believe
the best reading would put the trumpet and bowl judgments as describing
exactly the same events from a slightly different perspective, both describing
the pouring out of God’s wrath over differing domains.

In the following chart I try to show that the events spoken of in the trumpet and
bowl judgments are one and the same. The trumpet judgments are said to affect
one third of the domain mentioned and the bowl judgments do not mention the
extent of damage, so it could be they are talking about the same events
effecting a third of each domain mentioned. Only at the end of the millennial
reign of Christ on earth will the entire earth be burned up by fire, before the
millennium only a third of each domain will be affected as the earth will still be
inhabited for one thousand years.

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The first four trumpet and bowl judgments all speak of the Wrath of God
poured onto a third of the Land, the Salt Water, the Fresh Water and the
Heavens. Looking at the chart you can see that the trumpets and bowls could
release the same judgments.

The first trumpet will sound, and the bowl of God’s wrath will be poured on
the land burning a third of the vegetation by fiery hail that will also cause sores
on those bearing the mark of the Beast.

The second trumpet will sound, and the bowl of God’s wrath will be poured
out on the sea when an impacting asteroid or an exploding island volcano will
cause a third of the sea to turn to the colour of blood and a third of sea creatures
to die (notice how both trumpet and bowl descriptions match perfectly here).

The third trumpet will sound, and the bowl of God’s wrath will be poured out
on the rivers and springs when an asteroid (called ‘wormwood’ which means
bitter) breaks up and pollutes a third of all fresh water turning them to the colour
of blood.

The fourth trumpet will sound, and the bowl of God’s wrath will be poured out
on the heavens so that a third of the sun is struck causing a third of the stars
and moon to diminish in light and mankind to be scorched on earth. This does
not immediately seem to be possible but scientist say a mega solar flare could
knock out all satellites and earths lights so that a dimming will occur and yet the
flares will scorch people. Another alternative is a huge nuclear explosion on
earth which would scorch many and cause a cloud blocking a third of all
heavenly lights.

The last three trumpet and bowl woes unleash the wrath of God poured onto
the kingdom of the Beast.

The fifth trumpet will sound, and the bowl of God’s wrath will be poured out
releasing locusts from the bottomless pit that will torment the Antichrist’s
kingdom for five months, smoke from the pit covering his kingdom in darkness.

The sixth trumpet will sound, and the bowl of God’s wrath will be poured out
releasing an army of 200 million that will cross a dried-up river Euphrates (the
border of the full land given to Israel) to gather for the battle of Armageddon.

The seventh trumpet will sound, and the bowl of God’s wrath will be poured
out, releasing one final earthquake, mighty thundering and great hail that will
usher in the fullness of the Kingdom of God on earth.

So, it can be shown quite easily that the trumpet and bowl judgments are
speaking of the same events that will occur with the outpouring of God’s wrath
at the end of this age.
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Why are accounts of the Little Scroll (Chapter 10) and the Two Witnesses
(Chapter 11) inserted before the seventh Trumpet? I believe they are inserted
here as they are vitally related to the seven plagues.

The Little Scroll reveals the “TASTE” of the plagues.

The Two Witnesses show the DECLARERS of those plagues.

ii. The Little Scroll

In Chapter 10 John sees a mighty angel clothed with a cloud, a rainbow over
his head, His face shining like the sun and His feet like pillars of fire and the
voice of a lion sounding forth seven thunders. This may represent Jesus
Himself with a little scroll open in His hand (compare with Revelation 1:14-
16) or it may be a huge angel coming in the power and authority of Jesus.

This scroll cannot be the same as the scroll with the seven seals as the
Greek word ‘biblaridion’ used here as opposed to ‘biblion’ in 5:1 meaning
they are different types of scrolls – this one being much smaller.

Indeed, this scroll seems to be like that of Ezekiel 2:9-3:3 which has
lamentations, mourning and woes written on it. This scroll probably contains
the writing about the wrath of God poured out with the seven trumpets and
bowls.

“Then I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it, and it was as
sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became
bitter.” Revelation 10:10 (NKJV)

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Really when this book is read it will declare the start of the Day of the Lord.
In the Old Testament this Day is looked forward to in prophecy as a time of
judgment on God’s enemies:

“Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel, with both wrath and fierce
anger, to lay the land desolate; and He will destroy its sinners from it. For
the stars of heaven and their constellations will not give their light; the sun
will be darkened in its going forth, and the moon will not cause its light to
shine.” Isaiah 13:9-10 (NKJV)

It will also be a time of full salvation of His people:

“The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the
coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD. And it shall come to
pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Joel
2:31-32 (NKJV)

Bitter = SUFFERING AND PAIN OF THE LOST (Isa 13:9-10).

Sweet = FULLNESS OF GOD’S PROMISES TO THE SAVED (Joel 2:31-

32)

iii. Measuring the Temple

After eating the little scroll John is given a measuring rod and asked to
measure the dimensions of the Temple of God which will be rebuilt on the
Temple Mount during the time of the Antichrist. We know it is referring to
this Temple during this time as the angel says “it (that is the outer court of
the Temple) has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city
underfoot for forty-two months” (11:2).

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This cannot correspond to Ezekiel’s Temple (Ezekiel 40-48) as this is too

big to fit on the Temple Mount (875 square feet) and will probably be the
Fourth Temple that will be built during the Millennium. This being the case
the temple here is probably a Third Temple built during the Tribulation time
allowed under the peace treaty the Antichrist will make for seven years and
break halfway through by setting up an image of abomination in the Temple
(2 Thessalonians 2:3-4). This Temple will be destroyed by the great
earthquake when Jesus Returns.

iv. The Two Witnesses

After the measuring of the Temple John sees the two witnesses who will
rise during this final forty-two months (11:3 – 1260 days). They will probably
come onto the scene when the Antichrist defiles the Temple and demands
worship for himself.

They are called “two olive trees” which hearkens back to ZECHARIAH 4:11-
14 referring, in the first instance, to Zerubbabel and Joshua who led the
rebuilding of the second Temple in just over three years, maybe indicating
these two witnesses will have a hand in rebuilding the third temple during
the Tribulation time.

“These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the
God of the earth.” Revelation 11:4

“Then I answered and said to him, “What are these two olive trees—at the
right of the lampstand and at its left?” And I further answered and said to
him, “What are these two olive branches that drip into the receptacles of the
two gold pipes from which the golden oil drains?” Then he answered me and
said, “Do you not know what these are? “And I said, “No, my lord.” So he
said, “These are the two anointed ones, who stand beside the Lord of the
whole earth.” Zechariah 4:11-14

They come in the spirit of ELIJAH and MOSES that is why many interpreters
say they are Elijah and Moses. However, John the Baptist was the “Elijah
that is the come” and was a very distinct person from the original Elijah so
these two witnesses will probably be different people who come in the power
and spirit of Elijah and Moses.

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They come in the spirit of ELIJAH as they have power to shut up heaven
(11:6) as Elijah did (James 5:17) and the fire from their mouths could remind
us of the God of Elijah who answers by fire (1 Kings 18:24).

They come in the spirit of MOSES in that they have the power “over water
to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as
they desire” (11:6). Indeed, many of the trumpet and bowl judgment
descriptions point directly to the plagues God inflicted on Egypt through the
word of Moses. The chart included here shows the amazing similarities.
Indeed, it is highly likely that these trumpet and bowl plagues come in
response to the commands of the two witnesses.

They will prophesy and call down the plagues and eventually be martyred
by the Antichrist (11:7) for the entire world to see their bodies lying in
Jerusalem, but they will rise again on the third day at the rapture (11:12)
that will be at the last trumpet.

v. Where will saints be at this time? Think about The Exodus and The Flood.

The question is: Where will God’s people be during the outpouring of His
wrath? Will they be raptured before this happens?

In like manner we could ask: Where were God’s people when Moses
released the plagues? They were still in the land but were not touched by
God’s wrath if they applied the blood of the Passover lamb to their
doorposts.

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It could well be that Christians will still be on the earth when the plagues of
God are poured out after the Great Tribulation. However, they will be
protected by the blood of the Lamb, Jesus.

The idea that Christians may well still be on earth during the Trumpet and
Bowl judgements also has strong support from the last part of Matthew 24,
Jesus’ Olivet Discourse.

“But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man
be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will
the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will
be taken and the other left.” Matthew 24:37-40 (NKJV)

The context here is that the final judgment of God on the earth will be like
the days of Noah where the wicked were taken away. The righteous were
not taken away but were hidden in the Ark, which is a type of Christ. It was
the wicked who were taken by the flood waters and perished.

Could it be that, in this context, we should desire to be those left behind and
not those taken? This is just something to think about.

3. Conclusion:

a. VENGEANCE belongs to the Lord.

b. During His wrath, the saints are SAFE – hidden in Christ.

Two life lessons we get from this lesson are that vengeance belongs to the
Lord and that during the wrath of His vengeance the saints will be safely
hidden in Christ (whether that is on the earth or in heaven).

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PART SIX: ARE YOU RAPTURE READY?

1. Introduction:

There were two frogs on a conveyer belt heading straight for a deep vat of
cream. One was vigorously exercising its limbs whilst the other was calmly
sitting. The sitting frog said to the other, “Why are you so active, I believe the
manager will come and save us before we reach the vat.” The other replied,
“Whether he does, or does not I am preparing myself to fall in the cream”. Well,
the frogs came to the end of the belt and the manager did not appear to save
them and they both fell in. The frog who had been sitting was shocked, so
shocked he was paralyzed by the experience and so drowned in the enveloping
cream. The other frog continued to push its legs back and forth with great
endurance until the cream turned to butter under its feet and eventually was
solid enough so that the frog leaped right out of the vat and into the manager’s
arms!

The moral of this story is that it is better to be prepared to go through trouble,

whether you are destined to go through it or not. As we will see there are many
theories as to when the Church is raptured (caught up), the predominant one
saying that the Church will be raptured before the Great Tribulation. In this
lesson I will argue that this is only a theory, and it actually has quite a flimsy
Biblical backing. There is actually more Biblical evidence that the Church is
destined to actually go through the Great Tribulation. Knowing this it is better to
be prepared for the worst-case scenario.

“The dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.” 1
Thessalonians 4:17

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The word “Rapture” is found NOWHERE in Scripture, but it is described a few

times. The main passage describing the Rapture is 1 Thessalonians 4:17.
Indeed it is from the Latin translation of the word “caught up” here that we get
the term “Rapture”.

The Rapture is a future CATCHING up or gathering of the Church, dead and

then living, to be given resurrection bodies and meet the Lord in the air (See
also 1 Corinthians 15:52, Matthew 24:31)

The big question then is not, “is the Rapture Biblical?” but “WHEN is the Rapture
due to happen?” We will now explore this question.

2. When is the Rapture?

Study the following charts to see the different theories as to when the Rapture
of the Saints will take place in relation to the tribulation period.

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i. Theories of when the Rapture is.

Pretribulation Rapture:

The pretribulation position advocates that the rapture will occur before the beginning
of the seven-year Tribulation period, while the second coming will occur at the end of
the seven-year Tribulation period. Pretribulationists often describe the rapture as
Jesus coming for the church and the second coming as Jesus coming with the church.
Pre-tribulation teachers and preachers include J. Dwight Pentecost, Tim LaHaye, J.
Vernon McGee, Chuck Smith, Chuck Missler, Jack Van Impe, Grant Jeffrey, and David
Jeremiah. While many pretribulationists are also dispensationalists, not all
pretribulationists are dispensationalists.

Midtribulation and Pre-Wrath Rapture:

The midtribulation position espouses that the rapture will occur at some point in the
middle of the Tribulation period. The Tribulation is typically divided into two periods of
3.5 years each. Midtribulationists hold that the saints will go through the first period but
will be raptured into heaven before the severe persecution and trouble in the second
half of the Tribulation, commonly called the Great Tribulation. Mid-tribulationists appeal
to Daniel 7:25 which says the saints will be given over to tribulation for "time, times,
and half a time," - interpreted to mean 3.5 years. At the halfway point of the Tribulation,
the Antichrist will commit the "abomination of desolation" by desecrating the Jerusalem
temple (to be built on what is now called the Temple Mount). Midtribulationist teachers
include Harold Ockenga, James Buswell and Norman Harrison. This position is a
minority view among premillennialists. A variation on this is that the Rapture will occur
before the wrath of God which will be in the latter part of the Great Tribulation.

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Posttribulation Rapture:

The posttribulation position places the rapture at the end of a tribulation period.
Most posttribulation writers define the tribulation period in a generic sense as
the entire present age, or in a specific sense of a period of time preceding the
second coming of Christ. The emphasis in this view is that the church will
undergo the Great Tribulation and will also be on earth for the outpouring of the
Trumpet and Bowl Judgments. “Immediately after the tribulation of those
days…they shall gather together his elect…” (Matthew 24:29–31) is cited as a
foundational scripture for this view. Posttribulationists perceive the rapture as
occurring simultaneously with the second coming of Christ. Upon Jesus' return,
believers will meet him in the air and will then accompany him in his return to
the earth. Authors and teachers who support the posttribulational view include
Pat Robertson, Walter R. Martin, John Piper, George E. Ladd, Robert H.
Gundry, and Douglas Moo.

According to my chart the pretribulation rapture would occur just before the
Tribulation period, hence before the Antichrist makes the seven-year peace
treaty (Daniel 9:27) which triggers many wars, rumours of wars, famines and
pestilences (the first four seals).

The midtribulation rapture believers claim that the rapture will occur halfway
through these seven years just as the Antichrist moves into Jerusalem with his
troops, setting up an abominable image (maybe of himself) in the newly rebuilt
Temple on the Temple Mount (Matthew 24:15), commanding worship to
himself. This will cause a great martyrdom of those not bowing down to the
image of the Beast (the fifth seal), a time called the Great Tribulation (Rev 7:14).

At the end of the Great Tribulation time (shortened for the sake of the elect –
Matt 24:22) there will be a great blackout where the sun is blackened, and the
moon is turned to blood plus a great earthquake and other heavenly signs (the
sixth seal - Rev 6:12-14) – this marks the start of the Day of the Lord where the
wrath of God is poured out (the Trumpet and Bowl judgments).

Those holding to a pre-wrath rapture say that the rapture occurs just before the
wrath of God is poured out, hence before the Trumpet/Bowl judgments. They
would point to the multitudes in Revelation 7:9 as being the raptured saints who
are raptured straight after the Great Tribulation.

Posttribulationists would say that the rapture does not occur until the end of the
time of God’s wrath, at the blowing of the last Trumpet and pouring out of the
last bowl (even among this view there are many variations).

The rise in belief in the "Pretribulation" rapture is often wrongly attributed to a

15-year old Scottish-Irish girl named Margaret McDonald (a follower of Edward

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Irving), who in 1830 had a vision of the end times which describes a post-
tribulation view of the Rapture that was first published in 1840. It was published
again in 1861 but two important sentences demonstrating post-tribulation were
removed causing confusion concerning the timing of the Rapture. The two
removed sentences were, "This is the fiery trial which is to try us. - It will be for
the purging and purifying of the real members of the body of Jesus" and "The
trial of the Church is from Antichrist. It is by being filled with the Spirit that we
shall be kept".

The popularization of the term is associated with the teaching of John Nelson
Darby, prominent among the Plymouth Brethren, and the rise of pre-
millennialism and dispensationalism in English-speaking churches at the end
of the 19th century. In 1908, the doctrine of the rapture was further popularized
by an evangelist named William Eugene Blackstone, whose book; “Jesus is
Coming”, sold more than one million copies. The first known theological use of
the word "rapture" in print occurs with the Scofield Reference Bible of 1909.

ii. Arguments for Pretribulationism

a. The first common argument for pretribulationism is that John’s catching up

in Rev 4:1 speaks of the Rapture of the Church before the Tribulation period.

“After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven.
And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me,
saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place
after this.” Revelation 4:1 (NKJV)

This means that they believe that the Rapture is a different event to the
actual Second Coming of Jesus, which flies in the face of Church belief up
until the nineteenth century and the plain reading of Scripture where we only
find one event called the “blessed hope”.

This relating John’s “catching up” to an initial secret coming of Christ before
His main Coming is a weak argument as this experience would be akin to
the Apostle Paul’s experience in 2 Corinthians 12:4 - a spiritual trance. Also,
it is John who is told to go up to heaven, not the church and this is not a time
of resurrection (being clothed with his resurrection body) for John, which is
the nature of the Rapture.

The same would be true for those trying to tie in Enoch’s taking away
(Genesis 5:24, Hebrews 11:5) and even Elijah’s departure. In Enoch’s case
he is seen as a key type of the Rapture by Pre-Tribulation adherents as he
is taken up to heaven before the flood (hence a Type of the Church being
Raptured before the Tribulation). However, it must be remembered that this
happened to Enoch 669 years before the flood and Enoch was three

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generations before Noah, so the term “as in the days of Noah” (Matt 24:38)
cannot be applied to him.

b. A second claim of pretribulationists is that there is no mention of the word

“Church” after Rev 3:22 until we come to Rev 22:16. This they claim means
that the Church is not in the Tribulation period.

However, as we see this a very weak argument as in the five letters 2

Timothy, Titus, 2 Peter and 1 & 2 John only the word “elect” is used for the
Church and in Jude only the word “saints” is used for the Church but the
Church was still present then.

These same terms are used constantly in Revelation during the Tribulation
period -The word “saints” occurs 12 times and “elect” appears 11 times after
Revelation 3:22 – so to say the Church has been taken away just because
the word “church” is not used holds no water.

A possible reason the actual word “church” (from the Greek word “ekklesia”
meaning “called out ones”) is not used during the Tribulation is that she has
to flee to the wilderness and cannot meet officially in church gatherings
under the Antichrist.

c. A third argument used by pretribulationists is that Scripture says that the

Church is not destined for wrath and promises we will be taken out of the
way before the wrath comes. They use such passages as 1 Thessalonians
5:9 (“not appointed for wrath”) and Revelation 3:10 (“keep you from hour of
trial”) to show we will not go through the Tribulation period.

All these passages used do not say this at all.

The first passage, 1 Thessalonians 5:9, says the Church is not appointed
for wrath but this is referring to the wrath of God, not the wrath of the
Antichrist. There is no promise that the Church will escape persecution
(indeed persecution is guaranteed to those who live godly lives – 2 Tim
3:12). Also, just because we are not appointed for God’s wrath does not
mean we will not be around when His wrath is poured out! The Hebrews
who applied the blood of the lamb to their doorposts were still in the land
when the plagues of God’s wrath came but they remained untouched as
they were not appointed to that wrath.

In the second passage, when Jesus says to the Church in Philadelphia that
they would be kept from the hour of trial it does not mean they would be
plucked up before trials came but that they would be protected or guarded
in the midst of trials.

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A related argument used by pretribulationists is that Paul said his teaching

on the rapture was to comfort the believers and for them to comfort others
(1 Thessalonians 4:18). They argue that the message of the church going
through the Tribulation is no comfort at all and therefore cannot be right.
However, this is a misunderstanding of the Biblical usage of the word
“comfort”. “Comfort” is derived from the English words “come” and “fort” and
originally had a meaning more akin to the Biblical meaning, hence its use in
the King James Version. Its actual meaning is “to give strength to go through
tough times” (hence to help people ‘come’ to the ‘fort’). So, Paul was actually
saying that his end time teaching was to give them strength to endure the
coming tribulation, to come to the fort, to Jesus, and be hid in Him during
these times.

d. A fourth argument the pretribulationists use is that the Rapture will come
quickly and quietly like a thief in the night. They teach that this part of His
Coming could come any time, even now and is an imminent possibility.
There will be no signs to herald the Rapture, but it will come at a time no
one can predict. This belief comes from such verses as Luke 23:39 and
Matthew 24:36.

However, in Matthew 24:36 (Jesus will come on a day and hour we do not
know) the word “hour” means a literal point of time. However, in Matthew
24:43 (if the master of the house knew the hour the thief was coming, he
would protect his belongings), the word “hour” is better translated “watch”,
meaning season of time. What Jesus is saying here is that His Second
coming will come at an unexpected point of time but within a season of time
that we can expect as there will be signs we can watch out for.

To say that a thief comes quietly is to understand how a thief works in

modern times. In Bible times the thief would come to “kill steal and destroy”
(John 10:10). As the dwelling places were often crowded with people
sleeping on the floor the thief would have found it impossible to steal things
quietly so would come armed and make a noise to scare off the people so
he could take their possessions.

It is interesting that Jesus’ interjection of “Behold I am coming as a thief”

(Revelation 16:15) comes just before the pouring of the seventh bowl. Could
this be pointing to the fact that he is coming to Rapture the church at the
end of the pouring out of His wrath, for the battle of Armageddon (mentioned
in the next verse). This is not a quiet coming but a loud one with a battle cry!
It is also not an unexpected coming, but one accompanied by clear signs.

e. A fifth argument for a pre-tribulation rapture, and probably the strongest,

comes from the statement in 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8: “And now you know
what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery
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of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until

He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom
the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the
brightness of His coming.”

A common interpretation of this is that “He who now restrains” is the Holy
Spirit. When the Church is raptured, it is claimed, the restraining influence
of the Holy Spirit will be taken away and full lawlessness will be let loose
upon the earth through the Antichrist.

However, there are many alternate interpretations of this. Some think “he
who now restrains” is actually Satan, waiting for the time to possess the
Antichrist and release hell on earth. Others say it could refer to the Roman
Empire or human governments that are holding back or restraining the
Antichrist from arising until the right time. But all these do not seem plausible
as Satan would welcome lawlessness, the sooner the better, and it would
also mean his taking away, which is not at this time. The Roman Empire is
long gone, and human governments will not be taken away by the revelation
of the Antichrist.

Better alternatives are that this does refer to God’s restraint being taken
away, but not the presence of the Holy Spirit in and through the Church.
One theory of what is restraining is that this is what Daniel 8:11 refers to:
“He even exalted himself as high as the Prince of the host; and by him the
daily sacrifices were taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast
down.” It could mean that when the daily sacrifice is taken away by the
Antichrist the restraining power of God will be taken away, so the Great
Tribulation will begin, and true lawlessness be seen on the earth.

Another theory is that God is restraining full lawlessness from breaking out
by His personal power or by angelic intervention (‘He’ could refer to an
Archangel such as Michael, mobilizing the angels to prevent the Antichrist
from arising until the right time). I would favour this last theory.

Worst case scenario.

Hence it is entirely possible to draw up a scenario from Scripture where the

Rapture happens at the end of the Great Tribulation time, even at the end
of the pouring out of God’s wrath (Trumpet and Bowl judgments). The next
chart shows the worst-case scenario where the Second Coming of Jesus is
all one event, the Rapture being at the same time as His coming in power
and glory to execute final judgment at Armageddon with His saints.

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This would mean the Church has to go through Satan’s wrath (especially
the Great Tribulation) and may even have to endure the time of the
outpouring of God’s wrath with the Trumpet/Bowl judgments.

It is this scenario we must prepare ourselves for like the parable of the frogs
tells us.

Prophetic Seasons – Study these charts then read on.

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There is a clue in Scripture as to the season of the Lord’s Coming when the
Rapture will take place. It is to do with the feasts of Israel.

There are seven feasts that are split into three main ones of Passover,
Pentecost and Tabernacles. As the chart shows Passover has been fulfilled in
the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and Pentecost has been fulfilled at
the birth of the Church (Acts 2) but Tabernacles has yet to receive a fulfillment.

Prophetically the fulfillment of the feast of Tabernacles happens with the

Second Coming of Christ. The Feast of Trumpets marks the Rapture of the
Church, the Day of Atonement marks the actual coming of Christ where all the
Raptured saints are gathered around Him for battle and the feast of
Tabernacles marks the start of the Millennial reign of the Saints with Christ.

In Rabbinical tradition the horns of the Ram that Abraham offered up instead of
Isaac are the First and Last Trump. Indeed, all Shofars derive from that ram. It
is interesting that Jesus is seen in Revelation as a Ram with seven horns and
that there are seven trumpets (shofars) blown to pour out His wrath.

In the first century, the last trump (shofar) meant a specific day in the year. In
Judaism, there are three trumpets (shofarim) that have a name. They are the
first trump, the last trump, and the great trump. Each one of these trumpets
indicates a specific day in the Jewish year. The first trump is blown on the Feast
of Shavuot (Pentecost) (Exodus 19:19). It proclaimed that God had betrothed
Himself to Israel. The last trump is synonymous with Rosh Hashanah (Feast of
Trumpets). It is interesting that the Feast of Trumpets starts on the 1 st Tishri,
which is a new moon and starts the seventh month of the religious calendar
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and the first month of the civic calendar. Prophetically this fits with the sign of
the eclipse (great blackout) starting the Day of the Lord.

It is stated that early Jews recognized the Day of Trumpets as a type of

Memorial Day. More than our modern versions of the holiday, it was instead a
day that was symbolic of the time "when the dead return to rejoin their
descendants at the beginning of the year." (This uncannily seems to be echoed
in the Chinese belief that on the seventh month the ghost of the ancestors come
back to visit the living relatives). This was the time that became a symbol of the
Last Trump.

The great trumpet is blown on Yom Kippur, which will herald the return of the
Messiah, Jesus, back to earth (Matthew 24:31).

On top of these beliefs the Rabbis taught that Pentecost marked the betrothal
(engagement to be married) of God to Israel. Hence, the Day of Trumpets
(lasting ten days before the Day of Atonement) can be likened to the Wedding
procession before the actual marriage (the Day of Atonement).

Hence, it seems possible that Scripture is pointing towards the Return of Christ
as being at the Great Trumpet (Day of Atonement), immediately preceded by
the Rapture of the Saints (a bodily resurrection and catching up into the air)
sometime during the ten days Feast of Trumpets (the Last Trump). All of this
will be at the end of the seven-year Tribulation, after the Great Blackout and at
the end of the Trumpet and Bowl judgments.

The LAST Trump:

“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 1
Corinthians 15:52

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of
the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise
first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them
in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
“ 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

The Trumpet blast referred to here is the “Last Trump” where the dead are
raised first (fits in with Jewish beliefs about the Day of Trumpets being a time
when the dead return to join their descendants). Hence, the Rapture could well
take place at the Feast of Trumpets and the “Last Trump” referred to here could
well be at the 6th Trumpet of Revelation (the 7th being the Great Trump), blown
sometime in the ten-day period of the Feast of Trumpets.

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The GREAT Trump:

"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and
the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of
the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in
heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son
of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will
send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together
His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew
24:29-31 (NKJV)

This trumpet blast may well relate to the “Great Trumpet”, blown on the Day of
Atonement. The saints (the church and all 144,000 Jews who turn to Christ) will
be raptured at the 6th Trumpet (the Last Trump), caught up into the air and then
gathered together around Christ at the 7th Trumpet (the Great Trump) for His
second coming to the earth in power and glory (for the battle of Armageddon).

“Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them,
and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. And
they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they
ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.” Revelation
11:11-12 (NKJV)

The Rapture of the TWO WITNESSES (the only specific mention of the Rapture in
Revelation) happens just as the 7th Trumpet (Great Trump?) is about to be blown
(Rev 11:11-15) – Is this the same time as the Rapture of all at the “Last Trump”?
(Both 144,000 Jews and rest of saints)

3. Conclusion: Are You Rapture Ready?

How to prepare for the Rapture? In the light of all we have seen we must know
how to be Rapture Ready.

1. Be BORN Again and SPIRIT-Filled.

Only the Saved have their names written in the Book of Life (the contents of the
Scroll the seals unlock). The seal of the Spirit (Spirit Baptism) will keep us
through the Tribulation time so we need to experience the empowering of His
Spirit. The Pre-tribulation message usually only includes this shallow
admonition - “Be Born Again so you will not be left behind” – leaving out the
next three important points.

2. Be prepared for the worst-case scenario (“are you prepared to DIE for your
faith?”).

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3. LIVING as though Christ is coming back today to reward you for your
faithfulness to His calling on your life but PLANNING as though He is coming
back at the end of your natural life and you will have to endure the Great
Tribulation, maybe even facing martyrdom.

4. Learn to live by FAITH.

During the Great Tribulation the Church will flee into the wilderness to trust the
Lord for His provision and protection – right now we need to exercise our faith
so that it will be second nature to us if indeed we do go through the Great
Tribulation.

5. Minister to and from the THRONEROOM daily. Build a strong and effective
Prayer Altar where you daily come before the Throne of Grace and pray and
live according to His will.

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PART SEVEN: THE WOMAN & THE DRAGON

1. Introduction:

Now we look at the seven SIGNS of Revelation. These signs are found in
Chapters 12-15 in-between the seven trumpet and seven bowl judgments
(indeed the seventh sign is the seven-bowl judgment).

Between the two accounts of the pouring out of the wrath of God, the seven
plagues, there is a series of seven signs that covers the last half of the seven
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years tribulation from beginning to end. This period covers the Great Tribulation
(the wrath of Satan through the Antichrist) and the start of the Day of the Lord
(the wrath of God through the Lamb).

How can we say that the signs are events in the last 3.5 years of the Tribulation
Period?

Because the terms 42 month, 1260 days and Time and Times and half a Time
(from Daniel’s prophetic language meaning 3.5 years) are all used for the time
of these events and the content reveals them to be concerning the Great
Tribulation (persecution of the Saints especially) and the pouring out of God’s
wrath at the end of this time.

The Seven Signs:

The Satan Signs

Sign One: WOMAN clothed with the sun

Sign Two: The DRAGON.

Sign Three: The Beast from the SEA.

Sign Four: The Beast from the LAND.

The God Signs

Sign Five: The LAMB on Mount Zion

Sign Six: Son of Man on White CLOUD.

Sign Seven: The Seven PLAGUES.

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Notice how the signs are split into groups of four and three just like the Seals,
Trumpets and Bowls are. The first four signs are to do with the wrath of Satan
through the reign of the Antichrist and the last three signs are to do with the
wrath of God with the triumph of the Lamb who unleashes God’s judgment on
the wicked. This is reflected in the following chart…

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In the diagram above we see the key events happening in the Great Tribulation
period before the Great Blackout and the Day of the Lord.

i. The Two Witnesses prophesy from the time the Antichrist desecrates the
Temple (setting up the Abomination of Desolation – Matthew 24:15) and the
forces of the Antichrist (Gentiles) take over Jerusalem (Gentiles tread
Jerusalem – 11:2) – they continue to prophesy for 42 months (1260 days –
11:3), maybe even calling down the Trumpet/Bowl judgments from heaven (see
11:6). They will be martyred towards the end of the Trumpet/Bowl judgments
(during this time they will be calling the people to repent). Then, just before the
Seventh Trumpet they will be Raptured (11:11-12) in the sight of the entire
world (through internet/TV).

ii. Simultaneous to the ministry of the Two Witnesses the “woman” will flee from
the Dragon into the wilderness to be provided for and protected for 3.5 years –
in this lesson we will consider who the dragon, woman and her children are.

iii. In the next lesson we will see that during this same time two beasts arise (one
from the sea and one from the land – Chapter 13) – we will examine who these
are then.

2. The First Two Signs: The Woman and the Dragon

“Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with
the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then
being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. And another
sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven
heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third
of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood
before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon
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as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod
of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. Then the
woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God,
that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days.”
Revelation 12:1-6

Who is the Dragon? (See Rev 12:9)

The Warring Dragon

There is no dispute as to who the dragon is as Revelation 12:9 and

Revelation 20:2 spell out his identity clearly for us.

“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and
Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his
angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:9 (NKJV)

He is the devil, Satan, the fallen archangel Lucifer (v4 – a third of the stars
thrown to earth probably represent the fallen angels following Satan to earth
before the fall of man). The dragon’s seven heads and ten horns (also seen
on the first beast in Chapter 13) hearken back to prophecies in Daniel that
we will look at in more details as we examine Chapter 13.

Presently he roams on the earth but has access to the heavenlies and must
appear before God to get permission to harm the righteous (Job 1:6-12).
But during this time (the Great Tribulation) Michael and his angels will
successfully cast out Satan and his demons onto the earth without access
to the heavenlies (v9). This means that there will now be no restraint on
Satan’s wrath towards the saints during the Great Tribulation period. That is
why some believe that the restraining power* referred to in 2 Thessalonians
2:6 is this present restraint on Satan that he has to appear before God
before touching His elect. In the Great Tribulation there will be no such a
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restraint and Satan will have a field day persecuting and martyring God’s
people through the reign of the Antichrist. However, at the same time Satan
will not be able to accuse the saints before God’s throne and the saints will
have power to overcome him (v11).

* Many scholars identify “what is restraining” (2 Thessalonians 2:6) as the

Holy Spirit. However, the “that he may be revealed in his own time” in
context could refer to the Antichrist so that the restraining force is not a
person but the power of or a decree from God restraining Satan from
harming the saints without His permission. If the Holy Spirit is taken away
during the Great Tribulation, then how can people be saved? True, it could
simply mean that the restraining power of the Holy Spirit is taken away, but
the Holy Spirit is still active in and through the elect at this troublesome time.

Who is the Woman?

There is much debate about who this shining woman is. There are five basic
beliefs:

i. The Roman Catholic Church has interpreted the woman here as Mary who
gives birth to Jesus. However, why would we suddenly go back to
Bethlehem here where the context is Satan’s persecution of God’s people
in the Great Tribulation (1260 days)? This is the least likely interpretation
given the context.

ii. More literal interpreters (and those wanting to justify the Pre-Tribulation
position) interpret the woman as national Israel. This view has only really
come to the forefront in the last 200 years. It says that the Sun, Moon and
Stars refer to Joseph’s dream where the stars are the brothers of Joseph,
the heads of the tribes of Israel. But this does not make much sense when
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we realize the woman is initially in heaven pregnant with the male child and
then later earth gives birth to more offspring (12:17). The woman does not
represent national Israel, but the heavenly woman could well represent true
Israel throughout all history. According to Romans 9:6 “not all who are
descended from Israel are Israel” - in the Old Testament true Israel would
have been Jews who truly believed and in the New Testament it is those
who are part of the body of Christ, the one new man, made up of believing
Jews and Gentiles grafted into the true Israel.

iii. It could be that the heavenly image refers to the prophecy of Genesis 3:15,
spoken in the first instance over Eve. The prophecy states that the seed of
the woman (Eve) will crush the head of the serpent (that is the Devil) and
the serpent will bruise the heel of the seed of the woman. This is a prophecy
that was fulfilled at the Cross where Satan seemingly gained the victory by
nailing Jesus to the cross (His heels being pierced by a nail) but where
Christ (the seed of the woman) triumphed over the works of the Devil,
crushing his head. But even if this symbolism holds it is more likely that the
woman in heaven represents God’s people throughout all time, identified
now, at this point in time, as the Church (the woman on earth).

iv. Many scholars say that the woman represents the Church. Yes, the woman
on the earth is most likely the Church (made up of Jews and Gentiles) that
goes through the Great Tribulation. She gives birth to many offspring that
the Dragon seeks to devour, probably meaning that the Church in the Great
Tribulation period wins many converts, many of whom will be martyred.
During this time, the Church will be persecuted greatly but will flee into the
wilderness where she will receive supernatural provision and protection for
3.5 years. She will not cease to “give birth” during this season of trial but will
win many for Christ. However, the totality of the woman, initially seen in
heaven, seems to be much broader than the New Testament Church.

v. The best view seems to be that the woman in heaven represents God’s
people through all generations (Old and New Testaments) and the woman
on earth is her manifestation as the Church during the Great Tribulation
period. She could represent God’s Bride (Israel in the Old Testament and
the Church in the New Testament). She is clothed with the sun, maybe
referring to God’s people being clothed with His righteousness. The twelve
stars could also represent the twelve tribes of Israel in heaven – the church
is grafted onto real Israel (Rom 11) and becomes part of her. However,
Revelation 1:20 interprets the seven stars as the seven angels of the
churches, so to be consistent these stars should represent angels over
God’s people. Her feet being on the moon probably indicate her power to
rule over the created order.

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Who is the Male Child?

There are three main views of who the male child is:

i. The Roman Catholic Church has long held that the child is Jesus as they
interpret the woman as Mary. In modern times the child is interpreted by
Pre-Tribulationists as Jesus, who was born from out of the nation of Israel
2000 years ago. The strongest evidence that the Man-Child is indeed Jesus
is that he is to “rule the nations with a rod of iron” (v5), which is used of
Jesus in Psalm 2:9 and Revelation 19:15. Also he is caught up to God’s
throne, which could be a description of the ascension of Jesus. The only
way that it could possibly be seen as Jesus is by separating the woman in
heaven from the woman on the earth (who we have seen is the church) –
the woman in heaven, as we have seen, could represent God’s people
through all time (hence it is called a ‘great sign’). The actual Greek used is
that this is a ‘man son’ (a mature young adult and not a baby) who is born,
which could mean that from the godly seed (the seed of Abraham and the
seed of David) comes the Messiah, the Son of Man, Jesus Christ. Heaven
is eternal, outside time and space, so the image in heaven could span
eternity!

ii. Some have suggested this is a special “elite” group of overcomers who are
raptured in a special “out-of” rapture before the rest of the Church. Those
believing in this theory say only these elite overcomers will rule with Christ
in the Millennium (they point to Revelation 2:26-27 showing that these
overcomers will ‘rule with a rod of iron’ just like Jesus). However, 12:17
mentions that the woman had other offspring in the period of hiding in the
wilderness, meaning that the male-child is not a special elite group but the

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first of many. This talk of “elite” groups of Christians is more of a Gnostic

belief and is not part of Jesus’ teaching. Yes, he had an inner core group of
three (Peter, James and John) but all the 12 Apostles were promised an
equal rule with Jesus (Matthew 19:28 – Sitting on Twelve Thrones).

iii. Another explanation is that this Male-Child represents groups of new

converts (born by the Church in the Great Tribulation) who, though young,
show they are mature by giving their lives for Christ in the Great Tribulation.
Hence, they are taken up to heaven by Martyrdom, which parallels with the
martyrs of the fifth seal (Rev 6:9-11) and of Revelation 7:14. There are many
other groups that follow as the woman has other offspring that the Dragon
seeks to devour (v17). I believe that the other offspring of the woman on
earth are converts that may well be martyred but the initial Male-Child is
actually Jesus as I have explained in point one.

In conclusion, I feel the most satisfactory identification of the Male-Child is

Jesus – not from Mary or from national Israel but from the godly seed of
Abraham and David. He is the first fruits of the resurrection who has already
been caught up to God’s throne after Satan tried to devour Him from birth
(Herod’s killing of all firstborn males under two) to the Cross.

3. Conclusion:

Provided for in the wilderness

Having established that the Woman who flees into the wilderness is the
Church during the Great Tribulation period we can say that Christians who
live at this time will be hunted down by Satan (probably in the form of
persecution from the forces of Antichrist due to not bowing down to his
image or taking his mark). The best option during this time will be running
into wilderness areas, living out the 3.5 years in caves, improvised shelters
and so forth (very much like David on the run from King Saul).

The fact that the woman is “given two wings of a great eagle” (12:14) seems
to deliberately remind us of God’s care for Israel in their wilderness
wanderings (Exodus 19:4-6). Notice that the expression “I bore you on
eagle’s wings” is indicating that God brought them to himself (closer to His
personal, manifest presence). Just as God came close to His people and
provided for them (water, manna, and quail), so will He provide miraculously
for the fleeing Christians in the Great Tribulation.

Protected in the wilderness

On top of God’s miraculous provision during this time will be His miraculous
protection. The woman will be protected from the “flood” that comes from
the Dragon (12:15-16) as she remains an overcomer.
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The enemy will come in like a flood (“the serpent spewed water out of its
mouth like a flood” 12:15). This reminds us of God’s promise in Isaiah 59:19-
20 that when this happens the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against
him.

“So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and His glory from
the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the
LORD will lift up a standard against him. “The Redeemer will come to Zion,
and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob, “ Says the LORD.” Isaiah
59:19-20 (NKJV)

What is this standard? It is the standard by which all God’s true people live
and is found as the quality marking out the overcomers during this period –
“the blood of the lamb, the word of our testimony and not loving our lives
unto death” (Revelation 12:11).

During the Great Tribulation, the Woman will be PROVIDED for (12:14) and
PROTECTED (12:15-16) in the Wilderness and will overcome the Dragon
by THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB (12:11).

She will find GRACE in the wilderness (Jeremiah 31:2)

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PART EIGHT: THE TWO BEASTS

1. Introduction:

We continue to look at the seven signs: the first four concern the work of SATAN
and the last three concern the work of GOD.

We have looked at Beauty, the end time church, the Bride of Christ, persecuted
and chased into the wilderness by the Dragon (the Devil). We will now look at
the Beast, or, more correctly, the Beasts!

In Revelation Chapter 13 we see the unholy TRINITY – The dragon, the beast
from the sea and the beast from the land.

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They represent SATAN, the ANTICHRIST and the FALSE Prophet who come
to earth in a last-ditch attempt to win people to their side. Notice how they
present themselves as a trinity – the Dragon as the Father of lies (see John
8:44), the Antichrist as the Son of Lies (called Son of Perdition in 2
Thessalonians 2:3) and the False Prophet as the Unholy lying spirit (see 1
Kings 22:22). In every way this false trinity will set itself up as a counterfeit of
the real thing (God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit).

The dragon is Satan who is behind the scenes and controlling two key figures
during the Great Tribulation. These two figures are revealed in the next two
signs as two beasts, one from the sea and one from the land. As we shall see,
these two beasts represent the Antichrist and the False Prophet.

Although the Antichrist and False Prophet appear on the scene before the Great
Tribulation (second half of the seven-year Tribulation period), their main
prophetic activities take place in this final three-and-a-half-year period, probably
after they have been demonized (possessed by Satan and his demons).

During this time, the forces of the Antichrist will capture Jerusalem and over run
her. The Antichrist will be proclaimed as God by the False Prophet who will
cause many in the world to worship his image and take his mark. This will be
marked by the Antichrist breaking his peace treaty with Israel and setting up his
image in the Temple, which in turn will lead to the ministry of the two witnesses
who will prophecy against the Antichrist and his false system for the entire Great
Tribulation period. They will bring the judgment of God down in the form of the
Trumpet/Bowl judgments and will be martyred at the end of that time only to be
raptured and meet Christ in the air at the last Trump.

Also, during this time, we have seen that the church will flee into the wilderness
from the persecution that will be intense at this time, the dragon representing
Satan who will be behind the Antichrist and the False Prophet in stirring up
hatred towards God’s people.

This lesson looks in more detail at the characteristics of the Antichrist and his
right-hand man, the False Prophet.

2. The Two Beasts.

a. The Beast from the Sea (Revelation 13:1-10)

“Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the
sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and
on his heads a blasphemous name. Now the beast which I saw was like a
leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth
of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.
And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his
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deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the
beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and
they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to
make war with him?" And he was given a mouth speaking great things and
blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months.
Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His
name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him
to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given
him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will
worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the
Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. If anyone has an ear, let him
hear. He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the
sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of
the saints.” Revelation 13:1-10 (NKJV)

This first beast is the ANTICHRIST. There are characteristics that show it
represents the Antichrist in end time prophecy, even though the word
Antichrist is not used. The similarities to Daniel 7 (see next slide) clearly
mark this out as such. The word “Anti” does not mean “against” in the
original Greek but “instead of” – he will be a counterfeit of Jesus the true
Christ. Six characteristics of the Beast will be:

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i. Out of sea (NATIONS)

The beast comes out from the seas, representing all peoples of the world.
He will come out from a system that seeks to rule over all people and will
succeed in doing so in his short demonic reign.

ii. 7 heads 10 horns (Leopard, bear, lion)

There are obvious similarities and differences of this beast with the dragon
in Chapter 12 (Revelation 12:3). Both have seven heads and ten horns, but
the dragon has seven crowns on its seven heads whereas the beast has ten
crowns on its ten horns (Revelation 13:1). This can be explained by
understanding that the dragon represents the spiritual, demonic power
behind the Beast (the Antichrist). The dragon as a whole represents Satan,
and the seven heads represent seven spiritual princes (demons such as the
Prince of Persia mentioned in Daniel 10:13) who are the real power behind
the seven kingdoms they rule over, from which the Antichrist will arise in the
end times. The ten horns represent ten earthly kings that come out from the
previous kingdoms as an end-time coalition from which the Antichrist will
arise (deposing three of those kings). Another difference is that instead of a
dragon we see the beast is an amalgam of lion, bear, and leopard – we will
see what this means in the next section.

iii. Power from THE DRAGON.

The dragon is the force behind the beast (Revelation 13:2). Just as Jesus
would do nothing except the Father show him, so the Antichrist does only
what his father (the Devil) tells him to do (the difference is that he has no
real choice as he will sell his soul to the Devil). It is interesting that the Devil
tried to get Jesus to bow down and worship him to be his Antichrist, but
Jesus refused (Matthew 4:8-10). There is one who will not refuse in the end
times and will become Satan’s puppet, and be doomed to the lake of fire
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(Revelation 19:20). It is evident that the Antichrist will start off as a gifted
and loved leader, doing much to help and bless the nations but will turn into
a monster when he is possessed by the Devil (Revelation 11:7) for his final
three and a half years rule of terror (the Great Tribulation).

iv. Mortally WOUNDED then healed.

One of the beast’s heads is mortally wounded but will be healed, like a
resurrection from the dead (Revelation 13:3, 17:8). This will probably be his
transition from a great human ruler to a demonic force. He will be killed by
the sword (assassinated) but then seem to rise from the dead (possessed
by the Devil).

v. World follow and WORSHIP him.

The world will marvel at the apparent resurrection from the dead (counterfeit
of Christ’s resurrection) and will follow and worship him (Revelation 13:4)
for 3.5 years (same time as Christ’s ministry). We know from other scriptures
that the Antichrist will set up an image in the Temple in Jerusalem and
demand worship to him through this image (Matthew 24:15) – this image will
be broadcast and promoted around the world by the False Prophet to be
worshipped (Revelation 13:15) and those who do not worship it will be killed
or, at least, persecuted and banned from buying and selling.

vi. Makes WAR against God and saints

The Antichrist will hate God and His people (Jews and the Church) – he will
blaspheme terribly against God (especially the name of Jesus) and will
launch the worst persecution of Christians and Jews the world has ever
known (Revelation 13:6-7).

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If we refer to Daniel 7 and the extra

insights we are given in Revelation 17:9-
12 it becomes apparent that the
Antichrist will arise from a long line of
kingdoms bearing some of their
characteristics.

The Lion, Bear and Leopard kingdoms

are identified in Daniel 7 as the
Babylonian, Medo-Persian and Greek
kingdoms. The ten horns are a coalition
of kings in one final end-time kingdom
that seems to be a revived Roman
Empire. The Antichrist will depose 3 of
these kings and rule overall, setting up
HQ in Jerusalem after breaking his
seven-year peace treaty.

Notice that the beast has the main look of

a leopard (Greek influence will be the
major characteristic), the feet of a bear
(Medo-Persia’s conquering power and
might) and the mouth of a lion (Babylon’s
speech and eloquence).

- Characteristics of the Antichrist:

If we combine all the teaching on the Antichrist from Daniel 7,9,11; Revelation
13; 2 Thessalonians 2, Matthew 24; 1 John 2 and 2 John 7 we come up with 10
Characteristics of the Antichrist (I have summarized them under the acronym
of ANTICHRIST):

ARROGANT yet successful leader

NATIONAL leader from ancient roots

TURNS from his religious roots

INITIATES deceptive covenant

CHANGES laws and seasons

HATES God and His people

RISES, as it were, from the dead

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IMMORAL and sexually perverted

SETS himself up as god

TAKEN over by Satan

- Types of the Antichrist:

“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall
come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last
time.” 1 John 2:18

“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders
to deceive, if possible, even the elect." Matthew 24:24

Through history there have been many figures that people have said was the
Antichrist. They are not THE Antichrist but a foreshadowing of him as they do
not line up on ALL the points we have seen.

One example is Hitler. His name adds up to 666 and he made war on God’s
people, the Jews and was a man of war. He was a Christian and deceived many
Christians into joining his cause. At first, he seemed the ideal leader of
Germany, reviving the economy (during his rule the Autobahn was put in place
and the Volkswagen (VW) was born). However, soon it became apparent he
was “possessed” and even an assassination attempt from within his own ranks
failed (they thought he was surely dead, but he walked away with minor
injuries).

We learn from Hitler not to be taken in by charismatic speakers or gifted leaders

but to recognize the signs of a counterfeit – we do this by knowing the real thing
– Jesus!

So, we see that the Antichrist will be a political leader who comes out from an
alliance of 10 kings. This alliance will be a type of revived Roman Empire but
with a difference (something like the European Union), seeking one world
governance. He will appear to be a saviour from world crisis at first and will
make a peace agreement for seven years in the Middle East that he will break
halfway through and then persecute Jews and Christians and others who don’t
worship him with great hatred for the second half of that time until God’s wrath
is poured out and Jesus returns for His Bride.

Some have noted that the Islamic world is also waiting for such a figure called
Al Mahdi (a title not his name). The following table shows the amazing
similarities between the Al Mahdi and the Antichrist:

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b. The Beast from the Land (Revelation 13:11-18)

“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns
like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. And he exercises all the authority of
the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in
it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. He performs
great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the
earth in the sight of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by
those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those
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who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded
by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image
of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as
many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes
all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on
their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except
one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the
beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.” Revelation 13:11-
18(NKJV)

The second beast is the FALSE PROPHET. Though not called the False
Prophet here but clearly named elsewhere (see Revelation 16:13), he will
be the religious right-hand man of the Antichrist and he will promote the
religion of the first Beast. The six characteristics of the False Prophet will
be:

i. Out of earth (SELF).

This beast comes out from the earth (Revelation 13:11), the dust, where
man came from. His religion will be a cult of self, earthly, sensual, and
demonic wisdom (James 3:15). It will probably be very Gnostic (from Greek
thought) in character.

ii. Lamb, 2 horns (Speaks like the DRAGON).

Notice how the False Prophet is likened to a Lamb with two horns
(Revelation 13:11) – Jesus is the Lamb of God, seen in revelation as having
seven horns. The False Prophet will be the counterfeit of the Lamb-like part
of Jesus just as the Antichrist is the counterfeit of the Lion-like part of Jesus.
He will be a wolf in sheep's clothing, appearing very holy and pure but he is
the mouth of the Devil himself.

iii. Power from the ANTICHRIST.

Just as the Holy Spirit is promised and sent by Jesus so the False Prophet
will be sent forth by the Antichrist, with his authority and power (Revelation
13:12).

iv. Causes people to WORSHIP the antichrist.

Just as the Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus and helps us worship Him so the False
Prophet will glorify the Antichrist and make the people worship him
(Revelation 13:12). The image talked about here that the False Prophet
makes people worship will probably be a living representation of the
Antichrist set up in the Temple but broadcast around the world.
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v. Performs great SIGNS and WONDERS.

The Holy Spirit empowers us to work mighty signs and wonders, but the
False Prophet will work deceiving signs and wonders (Revelation 13:13-14;
Matthew 24:24).

vi. Causes many to take THE MARK of the Beast.

The Holy Spirit is the seal, the mark of a true Christian (Ephesians 1:13) but
the False Prophet will cause those who follow and worship the Antichrist to
be sealed with the Mark of the Beast (Revelation 13:16).

- The Mark of the Beast

Most basically the mark of the beast, the number 666, is a numerical picture of
the nature of the Beast.

Six is the number of IMPERFECT, fallen man, eternally one short of perfection.
Three sixes show forth the unholy trinity of the Dragon, the Antichrist, and the
False Prophet. The mark that true Christians have is 777, the Holy Spirit.

Of note is the fact that if you add all Roman numerals together, excluding M
(1000) you get 666 – taking the mark of the beast will exclude you from reigning
in the thousand-year millennium period!

This mark is on either the head (THOUGHTS) or the hand (ACTIONS) meaning
that is an aligning of thoughts and actions with the Beast. Some say this will
take the form of an embedded computer chip in either the forehead or the hand,
without which one cannot buy and sell (Revelation 13:16-17). Whatever it is,

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Christians are to have no part in it as it will be an element of worshipping the

Beast. Those who take this mark are destined for hell (Revelation 14:9-10).

There are many characters through history that have been thought to be the
Antichrist because their name came out as the number 666 using Gematria (the
science of transforming letters into number). Some of them certainly may have
been Antichrists (a foreshadowing of the actual Antichrist) such as Nero, Hitler
and some of the Popes:

To derive 666 from Nero’s name, we must first convert the Greek version of his
name, “NERON KAISAR,” into its Hebrew (or Aramaic) equivalent, which reads
something like “NRWN QSR.” Now, if we take the Hebrew numeric values for
each letter - N = 50, R = 200, W = 6, Q = 100, and S = 60, the result is 50 + 200
+ 6 + 50 + 100 + 60 + 200 = 666!

Let us try another notorious tyrant - Adolph Hitler. If we assign an increasing

numerical value to each letter of the alphabet, such as A = 100, B = 101, Z =
125, and assign those numbers to “HITLER,” we get 107 + 108 + 119 + 111 +
104 + 117 = 666!

The Pope has often been a favourite of the Protestant church for the Antichrist.
They have used the same method to “prove” that the Pope is the Beast. The
Pope’s official title is “Vicarius Fi Dei,” or “vicar of the Son of God.” The Roman
numerals of this title are 5 + 1 + 100 + 1 + 5 + 1 + 50 + 1 + 1 + 500 + 1 = 666!

Some, however, are the product of an overactive mind:

Take fundamentalist televangelist Pat Robertson. His organization is called the

“700 Club.” By using a system of A = 0, B = 1, etc, “CLUB” = 2 + 11 + 20 + 1 =
34, and 700 - 34 = 666!
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Even Bill Gates’ (William Henry Gates III) name can be written numerical as
666. By converting the letters of “BILL GATES” into ASCII (A = 65, B = 66, etc)
values, we get the following: 66 + 73 + 76 + 76 + 71 + 65 + 84 + 69 + 83 =
663. Almost, but not quite enough. However, by adding the suffix “III” (3), we
get the desired result of 666!

There are some funny names that have the number 666 such as Barney the
Dinosaur. Everyone knows Barney is a cute purple dinosaur. However, by
converting “Cute purple dinosaur,” to Roman numerals (making sure to convert
“U” to “V,” as Romans had no “U” in their alphabet), we get C + V + V + L + D
+ I + V = 100 + 5 + 5 + 50 + 500 + 1 + 5 = 666!

More recently both Barrack Hussein Obama and his initial right-hand man,
Rahm Emmanuel have been targeted (as Antichrist and False Prophet) as their
names both add up to 666 using English Gematria. However, their placing,
actions and so forth do not add up if we compare them with the characteristics
we have seen in this lesson.

3. Conclusion:

Do not be DECEIVED.

“Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the
falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.”
2 Thessalonians 2:3 (NKJV)

The coming of the Antichrist will mark a time of FALLING away, where many
will leave the true church and follow the deceiving doctrines of the Antichrist
and False Prophet. Many may well be disillusioned if the Rapture is indeed after
the Great Tribulation and they find themselves confronted with the choice of
taking the mark of the Beast, which they will not be prepared for. This end time
falling away is mentioned in many passages of Scripture (e.g., 1 Timothy 4:1).

To avoid being one who will fall away we must learn to RECOGNIZE the
counterfeit – the best way to do this is to know the real thing! Specially trained
policemen know how to recognize counterfeit money by knowing the real thing
inside out. Now is the time to know Jesus more intimately than ever before,
drawing near to Him and learning to live in and be led by His Spirit.

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PART NINE: THE GOD SIGNS

1. Introduction:

We have seen that the ‘SATAN Signs’ are the Devil being cast down to earth,
possessing the Antichrist and the false Prophet who will persecute the Church
like never before. There are specific things we are told to look out for so that
we will know when these signs are upon us.

The last three ‘GOD Signs’ show us the final intervention of God to wrap up this
age and institute the Day of the Lord (judgment on the wicked and rewards for
righteous, who will rule and reign for one thousand years with Christ on earth).
These three signs show us the final events of the final 3.5 years straight after
the Great Tribulation (Satan’s wrath through the Antichrist). They show us
God’s final act of mercy in extending His salvation to all but also his decisive
judgment on the wicked who refuse to repent and turn to Him.

The following diagram shows us roughly where the Satan Signs (Signs one to
four) and the God Signs (Signs 5-7) with take place in the overall scheme of
things. The Satan Signs take place in the final three-and-a-half-year period
known as the Great Tribulation and the God Signs follow them at the end of this
time, just before the Second Coming of our Lord and during the trumpet/bowl
judgments of God.

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2. The Three God Signs

a. The Sign of the LAMB on Mount Zion.

“Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him one
hundred and forty-four thousand, having His Father's name written on their
foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, like the voice of many waters, and
like the voice of loud thunder. And I heard the sound of harpists playing their
harps. They sang as it were a new song before the throne, before the four living
creatures, and the elders; and no one could learn that song except the hundred
and forty-four thousand who were redeemed from the earth. These are the ones
who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who
follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men,
being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no deceit,
for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Revelation 14:1-5 (NKJV)

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The Fifth Sign is the Lamb on mount Zion with the 144,000. This vision is then
followed by the messages of three heavenly angels.

Who is the Lamb? Some say “a lamb” referred to in verse 1 is the False
Prophet (Revelation 13:11) and “The Lamb” in verse 4 is Jesus. However, if this
was so then the 144,000 would not be with him but would have fled into the
wilderness as they are part of God’s people. Also, the False Prophet is only
“like a lamb”, whereas Jesus has the title of “Lamb of God”. I think this passage
clearly refers to one Lamb who is Jesus.

Where does this happen? This question is really asking if the 144,000 are
with Jesus in heaven or on earth. Mount Zion could refer to either the literal
Jerusalem or the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 12:22). However, since I do
not believe that the heavenly Jerusalem comes until the after the Millennium
(Revelation 21:2), I believe this is talking of the Jerusalem on earth that exists
in the nation of Israel today. At the time of John, Mount Zion was what the Jews
called the place we call The Temple Mount today or it could also refer to all
Jerusalem. John would recognize this place as he had been there many times
with Jesus. In verse two John says “and I heard a voice from heaven” seemingly
meaning the scene of the Lamb was elsewhere. It is true that verses 2-3 refer
to music in heaven but does not mean the 144,000 are in heaven.

When does this happen? If this is a vision of heaven, then it could be any time
during the Tribulation period depending on who you see the 144,000 as.
However, if you see this as taking place in earthly Jerusalem then it must be at
the Second Coming of Christ when He returns to meet the saints in the clouds
and descend to Jerusalem (See Zechariah 14:4) to conquer the forces of the
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Antichrist at the battle of Armageddon. I would favour this interpretation as the

context seems to point to the final moment of God’s judgment on the Antichrist
kingdom.

Who are the 144,000? Some scholars say these are the same as the 144,000
mentioned in Revelation 7 others say they are a different group. Those that
interpret, as I do, the 144,000 in chapter 7 as Jews (the context supporting this
as they come from the literal tribes of Israel) tend to say the 144,000 in chapter
14 are not the same as they are described quite clearly as Christians (see
verses 4-5).

However, there is no contradiction to say this speaks of the same group if you
see them as Messianic Jews. These are Jewish believers in Jesus Christ who
will be sealed (7:4) and protected during the outpouring of God’s wrath (Rev
9:4) and who will be raptured up to be with Jesus in the clouds at the end of
this time (with all the saints, dead and alive) and then descend with Him to
Jerusalem either before or after the final battle of Armageddon. They alone are
seen with Jesus in Jerusalem as it will probably be Jewish believers that will
rule and reign from Israel during the Millennium, all other Gentile Christians will
rule and reign around the world.

This group are called the “first fruits” of the redeemed maybe referring to the
truth that the Gospel is to the Jew first then to the Gentile: “For I am not
ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to
every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Rom 1:16
KJV)

If so, this is a glorious vision of hope for the Jews that many will receive Christ
in the end of days, one group being especially holy. The Apostle Paul taught
that when the fullness of the gentiles has come in then all Israel shall be saved
(Romans 11:25-26) – this will happen when Christ returns. When they see Him
whom they (the Jewish nation) have pierced they will weep with real repentance
and be saved (Zechariah 12:10, Revelation 1:7).

- The three DECLARING angels (Revelation 14:6-10)

After the vision of the Lamb with the 144,000 John sees three declaring angels.
Just as the vision of the 144,000 is a great hope for Jewish believers so these
three angels give great hope for all believers around the world. These three
angels show that, right up to the last moment, God is bending over backwards
to extend His salvation to all.

These three angels offer a LAST chance of salvation

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Angel 1: The BIBLE Angel (14:6-7)

This angel declares the importance of BELIEVING properly.

The first angel from heaven (a messenger from God) comes to earth with the
everlasting gospel message to all nations, tribes, and tongues. We know that
The Gospel has been given to Christians to proclaim to the world and not to
angels. Some see this as proof that Christians are raptured before the
Tribulation period so that only this angel can spread the Gospel during this time.
However, it only says the angel encourages the people to fear, glorify and
worship God the Creator, it does not tell them how. That is the Saint’s privilege
as we go forth preaching the good news about Jesus Christ’s death and
resurrection. Maybe this angel will strengthen the saints during the final period
of Tribulation and wrath to endure and share the Good News right to the end.
Matthew 24:14 shows us that the priority of the Saints during this period will be
to preach the gospel of the kingdom as a witness to all nations then the end
(Christ’s second coming) will come.

In other words, this angel declares the importance of BELIEVING properly.

Salvation only comes through belief and trust in Christ alone.

Angel 2: The BABYLON Angel.

This angel declares the importance of BEHAVING properly.

The second angel comes to declare the fall of Babylon the Great. We will look
more at this in the next lesson, but here it is enough to say that this angel is
warning us not to drink of the wine of this Babylon, this false system of the
world. All are to flee from Babylon or will suffer her fate. The eventual
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destruction of Babylon seems to be the final event in God’s calendar of

destruction (Revelation 16:19) before the rule and reign of the Saints with Him
for a thousand years, so in this angel’s cry is a warning to flee from Babylon
right up to the very last moment. God extends His salvation to all right up to the
very end.

Really, this is a cry to live properly, not be joined to this harlot called Babylon
and drink of her wine. The symbol of wine speaks of partaking of a particular
source of pleasure and satisfaction. We are not to be drunk on the wine of this
world, but we are to be filled with the Spirit of God (Ephesians 5:18) and live
uprightly, partaking in His life.

In other words, this angel declares the importance of BEHAVING properly. True
belief in Christ leads to godly behaviour.

Angle 3: The BEAST Angel.

This angel declares the importance of BELONGING properly.

The last of this trilogy of angels brings a warning not to take the mark of the
Beast. Doing this will mean one has bowed down to worship the Antichrist and
belongs to him. The mark of the Beast is really a seal of ownership just as the
Holy Spirit seals true believers so that they belong alone to God. Those who
willingly take the mark of the Beast are destined to an eternity in Hell.

In other words, this angel declares the importance of BELONGING only to God.
If we don’t believe properly and behave properly, we show we do not really
belong to God. We need all three aspects in our life, and we need to be like
these three angels, going forth to all peoples with an urgency to witness of the
truth before it is too late.

- The PATIENCE of the Saints.

“Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the
commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Then I heard a voice from
heaven saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from
now on.' " "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their
works follow them." Revelation 14:12-13 (NKJV)

Revelation 14:12 is the key verse in Revelation. Not only does it indicate
Christians will have to patiently endure the Great Tribulation period and maybe
even the outpouring of God’s wrath, but that they will be labouring hard to bring
the harvest in.

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Christians will not only be patiently enduring PERSECUTION during this time
but will be actively witnessing to non-believers, explaining the messages of the
three angels to them.

b. The sign of the SON of Man on the white cloud.

“Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the
Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.
And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who
sat on the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You
to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” Revelation 14:14-15 (NKJV)

The SIXTH Sign – The Lord of the Harvest followed by three reaping angels.

This may well be the ‘Sign of the Son of Man’ appearing in heaven referred to
in Matthew 24:30. It speaks of the Second Coming of Christ to complete His
judgment of the Antichrist’s kingdom. Jesus is seen as the Lord of the Harvest,
with a harvesting tool (sickle) in his hands. He will firstly gather all the good part
of the harvest (with the Rapture of believers) and then destroy the chaff, the
bad part of the harvest.

The chain of events seen here is that the first HARVEST angel comes from the
Temple calling for Jesus to reap the harvest. Jesus starts reaping and another
angel comes out from the Temple who is commanded by a third angel to
commence reaping and he does.

What is described here is probably the final JUDGMENT of the Antichrist and
his forces outside Jerusalem (the Battle of Armageddon). With the word of His
mouth, He will destroy them so that blood will flow up to the horses’ bridles for
1600 furlongs (180 miles) outside Jerusalem (verse 20).
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What we see here is that, though God desires for all to be SAVED (1 Timothy
2:4) He is a just God and must punish all wickedness. He has actually been
‘delaying’ that Day of Judgment, not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9),
but his Justice will be fully carried out. That is why it is essential we pay heed
to the message of the three angels and now go forth into the entire world
sharing the good news of Jesus before it is too late.

c. The Final Sign: The Seven Last PLAGUES (Rev Ch 15-16)

3. Conclusion:

The last sign is really an overall SUMMARY, revealing that God’s wrath will
surely come to destroy the Antichrist’s kingdom. We have already looked at the
seven bowl judgments alongside the seven trumpet judgments so will not dwell
too long on them here.

Chapter 15 introduces this last sign as seven angels with the seven last
plagues. We have looked at Chapter 16 in previous lessons so will not go into the
details here.

Seven is the number of PERFECTION or COMPLETENESS so these plagues

are the complete judgment of God on the kingdom of the Antichrist. The harpists
in heaven sing the song of Moses and the Lamb, declaring the victory of God
over the Beast. The song echoes the message of the first declaring angel
(Revelation 14:6-7) that God is to be feared, glorified, and worshipped as He
will surely judge all wickedness. This song also echoes the song of Moses
found in Exodus 15:1-21 which declares God’s victory and judgment over
Pharaoh and his armies and salvation of His people. The song of Moses in
Deuteronomy 32 is also strongly echoed here.

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PART TEN: THE FALL OF BABYLON

1. Introduction:

In this lesson we look at the first of the seven DOOMS – the fall of Babylon the
Great.

The seven dooms show God’s ultimate JUDGMENT on all His enemies before
He establishes the fullness of His Kingdom. The problems that were introduced
in Genesis, Satan’s kingdom and the Fall of man, are dealt with completely at
the end of this age.

All the major characters that have been introduced in Revelation as being
against God are seen here receiving their final judgment. God is a just and
merciful God. Even as He is faithful in being merciful to the repentant, He is
faithful in carrying out ultimate judgment upon the wicked.

Again, there is a 4:3 division of this seven. The first four dooms occur at the
Second Coming of Christ and the last three occur at the end of the Millennium
period.

The Seven Dooms

Doom One: Babylon the GREAT (17:1-19:10).

Doom Two: NATIONS and Leaders (19:11-18).

Doom Three: BEAST and False Prophet (19:19-21).

Doom Four: DRAGON (20:1-3).

Doom Five: Gog and MAGOG (20:4-10).

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Doom Six: Wicked DEAD (20:11-13,15).

Doom Seven: Death and HADES (20:14).

The seven dooms all occur with the coming of the DAY of the Lord – the Lord’s
ultimate judgment and salvation. At the coming of Jesus there is the judgment
of Babylon the Great, The Wicked Nations and their leaders and the Antichrist
and his right-hand man, the False Prophet. At the end of the Millennium will
come the final doom of Satan, Gog and Magog and the wicked dead (we will
look at these in the next lesson).

The following chart shows you where the seven dooms take place (in the boxed
area) - after the God Signs at the Second Coming of Jesus.

2. Babylon the Great

a. A Tale of Two WOMEN.

There are two women contrasted in Revelation – the BRIDE of Christ and the
harlot Babylon the Great. This contrast is nothing new; it is seen in the Old
Testament Prophets.

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“I adorned you with ornaments...and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you
were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and
embroidered cloth. ...You were exceedingly beautiful, and succeeded to royalty.
Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was
perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you," says the Lord
GOD.” Ezekiel 16:11-14 (NKJV)

"But you trusted in your own beauty, played the harlot because of your fame,
and poured out your harlotry on everyone passing by who would have it. ....
You have also taken your beautiful jewelry from My gold and My silver, which I
had given you, and made for yourself male images and played the harlot with
them.” Ezekiel 16:15-17 (NKJV)

Ezekiel prophesied from the Exile in Babylon to God’s people in 16:11-17

saying that they were made a beautifully adorned bride by God but had become
as a harlot due to their alliance with the spirit of Babylon. They sought after the
glory and wealth of Babylon rather than God’s glory.

b. PLUNDERING the Harlot to adorn the Bride.

The ADORNMENT that

was for God’s bride was
now upon the harlot
Babylon. The church is
to regain this adornment,
this crown, from the
harlot. For the bride to
claim back her rightful
adornment she needed
to return to the Lord and
do His will in humility and
integrity.

Old Testament examples of this:

In the time of the Exile God raised up Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah to lead
the people out of Exile in Babylon back to rebuild the Temple and Jerusalem.
Nehemiah gained favour from the king to return with ample permission and
resources for the rebuilding of the walls and gates of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:5-
8) – this is a practical example of how God will use the world’s system to provide
resources to His people to build His Kingdom.

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Notice that Nehemiah prayed to God what he should ask for from the pagan
king and because of his integrity before the king he was granted all that he
asked for to rebuild Jerusalem. He was plundering the harlot (the spirit of
Babylon) to adorn the bride (God’s people, now the Church).

Another scriptural example of plundering the harlot to adorn the bride is found
at the Exodus. In Exodus 3:22 we see God promising that the Egyptians would
release great wealth to God’s people as they left to go to worship God in the
wilderness.

“But every woman shall ask of her neighbor, namely, of her who dwells near
her house, articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing; and you shall put them
on your sons and on your daughters. So you shall plunder the Egyptians."
Exodus 3:22 (NKJV)

This was fulfilled in Exodus 12:35-36.

As God’s people flee from Babylon, they will go into the wilderness to worship
God and build a place of worship to Him with the gold and silver they have
plundered back from the harlot, just as the Israelites went miraculously through
the Red Sea to Sinai to build the Tabernacle using the resources taken from
the Egyptians.

This really speaks of God’s people being in the world but not of the world. It is
not the boat in the water that sinks the boat, but it is the water in the boat that
brings about its demise! It is not the Christian in the world that corrupts them
but the world in the Christian that shipwrecks their faith. Upright Christians in
Businesses around the world will not compromise as the world does (likened in
Scripture to laying with the harlot Babylon the Great) but will trade in integrity
and claim back money and resources that will be used to build His Kingdom.

c. The SYMBOLISM.

“I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy,
having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and
scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her
hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And
on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE
MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”
Revelation 17:3-5 (NKJV)

The harlot (Chapter 17 and 18) is seen sitting on many WATERS (peoples),
riding the seven headed beast that we have already seen in Chapter 13. She
is riding upon what will become the Beast System, the world-wide kingdom
ruled by the Antichrist. The ten rulers (horns) that the Antichrist comes out from

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will initially willingly allow her to work her charms in their nations and around
the world.

She represents ‘TRADE for pleasure’, hence the imagery of a prostitute. Just
as going to a prostitute involves immorality, deception, lack of integrity and so
forth, so the kind of trade this harlot represents is perverted and self-centered.

Many commentators say that there are two ASPECTS of Babylon here, one in
Chapter 17 and one in Chapter 18.

They say that in Chapter 17 ‘Mystery Babylon’ (17:5) is a RELIGIOUS system

as prostitution in the Old Testament was usually used as a symbol of false
worship, the Roman Catholic Church being a prime target of Protestant
interpreters. The ‘Babylon the Great’ (18:2) in Chapter 18 is seen as more of a
financial/trading system as the language is purely that of trade. However, we
must remember that there were no chapters in the original document and
reading chapters 17 and 18 together it seems to only be speaking of one
‘Babylon the Great’ characterized as a corrupted center of world trade that will
be used and abused by the Antichrist and his followers.

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The use of a PROSTITUTE as the main image simply gives us an example of

a perverted trading system. Indeed, the original Greek for the passage giving
the name on the woman’s forehead is best paraphrased as “And on her
forehead a mysterious name was written “Babylon the Great. The Mother of all
Harlots”, of the abominations of the earth” (Revelation 17:5). Hence, the names
in chapters 17 and 18 are one and the same.

She represents an end time world TRADING centre that is corrupt to the core
that Christians must flee from, taking her adornments in the process to adorn
His end time Bride.

d. The SPIRIT of Babylon

To understand how the Spirit of Babylon the Great works we need to go back
to the roots of Babylon – the Tower of BABEL.

“And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is
in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad
over the face of the whole earth." Genesis 11:4 (NKJV)

The city of Babylon started as a monument to man’s PRIDE. The Tower of

Babel, the precursor to the City of Babylon, was built as man wanted to build
his own kingdom rather than let God build His through them. They wanted to
reach the heaven to become as gods, making a name for themselves.

They feared being SCATTERED as their security was in their ability to build a
safe haven for themselves, not having to trust in the provision of God. Really it

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is the spirit of building one’s own kingdom, surrounding oneself with false
securities.

The spirit of Babel is characterized as travelling INWARDS and upwards. They

huddled together as a human corporation and aimed to go higher and higher.
This can be seen in modern terms as wanting to ascend the corporate ladder
at all costs, even if it means trampling on others to get there or using devious
means to reach the pinnacle.

Indeed, Babylon went on to be a centre of trade that INFECTED the world with
all types of moral corruption. It was a centre of proud trade and pleasure that
poisoned the known world.

Even though the literal Babylon fell, being conquered by the Medo-Persians,
the spirit of Babylon remained ever strong even to this day. At the time of the
Apostles the city of Rome had the code name “Babylon” (1 Peter 5:13) as it was
then the inheritor of the spirit of Babylon.

e. TYPES of Babylon the Great

In modern times the spirit of Babylon is alive and kicking. Today the spirit of
Babylon is seen in man’s desire to build taller buildings through trade that feels
that “the end justifies the means”, that as long as a profit is obtained the method
of getting there can be devious, lacking integrity and uprightness.

The Bible shows us that this spirit is only going to get stronger and stronger,
centered around one final end time city at the time of the Antichrist, until one
day it will collapse overnight in a time of fiery terror.

“For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.' Every shipmaster, all who
travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance 18
and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like this
great city?’” Revelation 18:17-19 (NKJV)

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When 9/11 happened many read Revelation 18:17-19 and felt that the prophecy
was being fulfilled before their eyes – with TV pictures showing the twin towers
about to fall, smoking profusely with witnesses from the ships of the sea. To
them it was clear that New York was Mystery Babylon.

I would say, just as there are many foreshadowings of the Antichrist, so there
are foreshadowings of Babylon the Great. New York is just a Type of Babylon
the Great as it does not show forth all the Biblical characteristics that will be
seen in the real thing. The real Babylon the Great is yet to be revealed as being
centered in a revived Roman Empire (somewhere in Europe), a place that will
be used by the Antichrist and False Prophet to form a cashless society that will
operate by the mark of the Beast. It will ultimately be a city that will be anti
Christian and be the center of great persecution of the Saints (Revelation 17:6).

f. MODERN day Babylon.

There are many contenders for Babylon the Great. Revelation 17:9, 18 seems
to show that she will be represented by a great city on seven hills and key
contenders, all on seven hills, are Jerusalem, Rome, Brussels, Moscow,
Istanbul, Tehran, and Mecca.

It may be early days yet to predict which one is the real Babylon the Great but
presently the best option seems to be Brussels as it is the head quarters of the
European Union which prides itself on being a revival of the Roman Empire.
Indeed, the imagery used by the EU is of the Tower of Babel crowned by the
crown of twelve stars that really belongs on the head of the Bride of Christ!

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Outside the EU building in Brussels (and seen on the Euro currency) there is a
statue of Europa, a woman on a beast!

g. The FALL of Babylon the Great

Initial Fall (Rev 17:16) Final Fall (Rev 18:21)

“And the ten horns which you saw on “Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a
the beast, these will hate the harlot, great millstone and threw it into the sea,
make her desolate and naked, eat saying, “Thus with violence the great city
her flesh and burn her with fire.” Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not
Revelation 17:16 (NKJV) be found anymore.” Rev 18:21 (NKJV)

Surprisingly, Babylon the Great does not initially fall due to the direct hand of God.
She will be destroyed by the very beast that she rode on! This end time world trading
center will be turned on by the very nations and leaders that once supported her. The
political powers (especially the ten kings) will turn against the financial powers at the
start of the Great Tribulation when they “give their kingdom to the beast” (17:17). This
will be the time that people will need the mark of the beast to buy and sell (13:16-17)
as the world’s financial system will crash and not be saved by the ten leaders but
instead will be made desolate.

In 2008 we saw how the financial sector needed the government to bail it out but when
a great economic collapse takes place in the time of the Antichrist there will be no one
to help.

Babylon the Great will go up in flames initially as the ten leaders turn on her and burn
her. In chapter 18 there is mention of her still smoking in verse 18. However, her final
judgment and downfall will come a bit later right at the end of the outpouring of the
wrath of God (as mentioned in Revelation 16:19). At the end of Chapter 18 we see a
mighty angel taking a great millstone and throwing it into the sea saying that Babylon
will perish in like manner. She will initially be sent to a fiery grave by the Antichrist and

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his followers but will eventually have a watery grave at the time of Christ’s return when
a huge earthquake will displace land masses, causing Babylon the Great to be cast
into the sea and sink forever.

h. The HALLELUJAH chorus.

The Hallelujah Chorus of Handel’s Messiah is actually from Revelation 19:1-6

– celebrating the fall of Babylon the Great (including all our savings,
investments and businesses!)

God’s people will have no part in Babylon the Great and will sing Hallelujah at
her eventual demise. God’s people in heaven will rejoice over her destruction,
firstly all the apostles and prophets who perished at her hand - “Rejoice over
her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you
on her!” Revelation 18:20, and then all heaven, including all believers, will join
in the Hallelujah Chorus!

Revelation 19:1-6, which inspired the Hallelujah Chorus in Handel’s Messiah,

records all heaven rejoicing and glorifying God at the destruction of Babylon the
Great. Though her destruction will take with it all stock exchanges, our bank
accounts, savings, investments, pensions, businesses and so forth, true
Christians will not weep as the world will (see Revelation 18:11) because they
never truly found their security in her, but in God.

3. Conclusion: The PROPHETIC cry.

"Come OUT of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive
of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4 (NKJV)

“FLEE from the midst of Babylon, and every one save his life! Do not be cut off
in her iniquity, for this is the time of the LORD's vengeance; He shall
recompense her.” Jeremiah 51:6 (NKJV)

“Make the arrows bright! Gather the shields! The LORD has raised up the spirit
of the kings of the Medes. For His plan is against Babylon to destroy it, because
it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance for His temple.” Jeremiah
51:11 (NKJV)

Christians in business are to be Bright Arrows, coming against the spirit of

Babylon and hitting the target of the high, holy, and heavenward call in Christ
Jesus. We are not to be dirty, rusty arrows, but polished, clean, holy, upright for
Him, like a righteous Robin Hood plundering back the riches from the world that
truly belong to the poor in spirit, the Bride of Christ, the Church!

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PART ELEVEN: THE END OF ALL WICKEDNESS

1. Introduction:

Revelation is a book of ENDINGS. Here we see that there will be an end of all
wickedness that really began in Genesis with the fall of Satan and the fall of
Man. Here Jesus is really seen as the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last,
the Word that started it all off and the one who will tidy it all up!

We continue looking at the sixth group of seven. The seven dooms reveal the
fate of all the enemies of God. It is interesting that these enemies are dealt with
in the REVERSE order in which they are introduced in Revelation.

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Babylon the Great, the last enemy to be introduced in Revelation, is seen to be

destroyed first. We have dealt with this and will now look at the next six enemies
of God and His people and what their fate will be.

What we really learn in this section is that vengeance belongs to the Lord
(Hebrews 10:30) and He will deal with all our enemies in His way which is
perfect. If we try to take vengeance into our own hands, we will always do it
wrongly.

We have seen that God gives many CHANCES to turn to Him even through the
pouring out of His wrath with the Trumpet and Bowl judgments.

However, right at the very end He executes His righteous JUDGMENT with
finality on His enemies who refuse to repent. All these seven dooms occur in
the period between the second coming of Christ and the final destruction of
heaven and earth after the Millennium before the coming of the New Heaven
and New Earth.

There is a cry to come to the MARRIAGE Supper of the Lamb.

“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb
has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to
be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts
of the saints. Then he said to me, "Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to
the marriage supper of the Lamb!' " And he said to me, "These are the true
sayings of God.” Revelation19:7-9 (NKJV)

The COUNTERFEIT bride (Babylon the Great) has been destroyed and now
the true Bride, the Church, is revealed in all her glory and the marriage supper
of the Lamb is now seen to be ready. God’s true church is made up of those
who have clothed themselves with righteous deeds. They are not saved by
these works but will manifest these works because of their salvation through
the blood of the Lamb. Anyone not found wearing these “wedding clothes” will
not be allowed to the supper and cast into outer darkness (Matthew 22:11-14)
as they were not really His people.

The Bridegroom and Guests

“Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him
was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had
a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe
dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in
heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.”
Revelation 19:11-14 (NKJV)

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Now the BRIDEGROOM arrives and the Bride (made up of all the righteous) is
following Him as a mighty army. God’s people are told to flee from the first
doomed one (Babylon the Great) and they had no direct part in her downfall.
However, the following dooms are executed by Jesus with the righteous by His
side.

2. The next six dooms (Doom 1 was of Babylon the Great)

Doom #2: Striking the Nations and Leaders

a. The Nations

“Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the
nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads
the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on
His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF
LORDS.” Revelation 19:15-16 (NKJV)

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The first doom after the fall of Babylon the Great is the striking of the
NATIONS. Jesus alluded to this judgment of the nations in Matthew 25:

"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him,
then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered
before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd
divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right
hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right
hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for
you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me
food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me
in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in
prison and you came to Me.” Matthew 25:31-36

Notice that Jesus says this will be a judgment of the nations when He
returns. This is not a handing out of rewards to individual Christians (Bema
Seat of Christ – see 1 Corinthians 3:12-15) or the Great White Throne
judgment (Revelation 20:11) at the end of time but is a judgment of whole
nations left after the pouring out of His wrath. There will be sheep nations
and goat nations. Sheep nations are nations that acted “righteously”
especially in their treatment of the poor and needy of Jesus’ brethren
(maybe referring to the Jews). Goat nations are ones that oppressed the
poor and needy and they are the ones that will be struck by Jesus at this
time. By His Word (the sword coming out of His mouth) they will be
destroyed with His “rod of iron” which is a fulfillment of Psalm 2:8-9.

“Ask of Me, and I will give You

The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’”

Exactly how this is done is not stated but it will affect the state of that nation
as it goes into the Millennial reign where Christ will rule over them through
His glorified saints.

b. Kings and Leaders

“Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice,
saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, "Come and gather
together for the supper of the great God, that you may eat the flesh of kings,
the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of
those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, both small
and great." Revelation 19:17-18 (NKJV)

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This is God’s revenge over the EVIL national leaders. The kings and leaders
that have defied God by joining forces with the Antichrist will meet their
doom at the Battle of Armageddon. They will not perish by human weapons
but by the Word of God. Jesus will simply speak His judgment and they will
perish.

This seems to be the actual WEDDING banquet (the supper of the great
God) and the menu is quite grisly. The dishes include the flesh of kings,
captains, mighty men and even of their horses (compare with Ezekiel 39:18-
19 that describes the war with God of Magog). However, this must be seen
idiomatically and not literally. Just as Jesus telling us to eat His flesh means
we should partake of His life, eating the flesh of kings here means partaking
in His victory over them. The saints will participate in Christ’s victory over
the wicked world leaders, seeing final justice for their atrocities.

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked
man rules, the people groan.” Proverbs 29:2 (NKJV)

Doom #3: Beast and False Prophet (Revelation 19:19-21)

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“And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together
to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. Then the
beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his
presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and
those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire
burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which
proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were
filled with their flesh.” Revelation 19:19-21 (NKJV)

The Antichrist and the False Prophet are the only wicked HUMANS not to go
before the Great White Throne for judgment. Indeed, they are the first people
to be sent directly into hell (the lake of fire). All those that suffered under their
tyrannical rule will be avenged here and God will answer the cry of the martyrs
in Revelation 6:10, "How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge
the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?"

Doom #4: The Dragon (Revelation 20:1-3, 20:10)

“Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the
bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that
serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;
and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him,
so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were
finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while.

And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.
Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus
and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and
had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived
and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not
live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the
second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and
shall reign with Him a thousand years.” Revelation 20:1-6 (NKJV)

“The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone
where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and
night forever and ever.” Revelation 20:10 (NKJV)

After the doom of the Antichrist and the False Prophet the Devil’s final doom
will be delayed as God knows he still has a role to play. Satan will be thrown
into the bottomless pit to render him powerless in deceiving people until the end
of the thousand-year rule and reign on earth of Christ and the saints. This
thousand-year rule and reign on earth will show what the Kingdom of God looks
like in fullness. Christ will rule with the 144,000 from Jerusalem and all the other
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resurrected, glorified saints will be distributed over the earth to rule over areas
according to their faithfulness to God’s call on their lives before the Second
Coming. Those ruled over will be the gentile non-believers who remain on
earth. As Satan will be bound during this period and the curse will be removed
from the earth it will be a time of peace and prosperity like never before, a
realization of God’s vision for the Garden of Eden covering the whole earth.

This can be rendered in the following diagram…

Satan’s final doom is when he is thrown into hell (the lake of fire) after he has
performed his final act, which we will look at now in the next doom.

Millennial Views

This following chart shows the various views concerning the Millennium. I am
presenting a form of the first one in this teaching. This is called Post-tribulational
Premillennialim. This chart with the description of terms following will help you
understand the various beliefs concerning the thousand-year period we call the
Millenium.

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Read Revelation 20:4-6 (NKJV)

1. Post-Tribulational (Historical) Premillennialism:

This view teaches that the Rapture occurs at the same time as the Second
Coming of Jesus, after the Tribulation period and the Millennium comes straight
after this where the saints will fully rule and reign with Christ. This was widely
held in the early church until 400AD.

2. Pre-Tribulational (Dispensational) Premillennialism:

This is like the former but teaches that the Rapture occurs before the Tribulation
time and that the Second Coming of Jesus is another event after the Tribulation
and just before the Millennium where the saints will fully rule and reign with
Christ. This originated with Pre-Tribulationism and is relatively recent.

3. Postmillennialism:

Postmillennialism teaches that we are presently in the literal Millennium, with

the saints already ruling and reigning with Christ, awaiting the Second Coming
of Jesus and final judgment. Remerged during the Enlightenment.

4. Amillennialism

Amillennialism teaches that there is no such thing as a literal thousand-year

period but that it is merely symbolic of a rule and reign with Christ in our spiritual
lives now. This came with the emergence of the Roman Catholic Church.
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Doom #5: Gog and Magog (Revelation 20:7-9)

“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison
and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog
and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.
They went up on the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and
the beloved city. And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.”
Revelation 20:7-9 (NKJV)

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Because there will still be unredeemed people on earth still possessing a sinful nature
there will be room for rebellion. This will happen at the end of the thousand years when
the Devil will be released from the bottomless pit. He will traverse the earth to deceive
many of these people all over the earth. Those who follow him are called Gog and
Magog, which is a term mentioned by the prophet Ezekiel in 38:2. Gog is generally
considered the leader of the nation Magog that by the end of the thousand years will
have spread over the whole earth. From these people Satan will raise a huge army
that will surround Jerusalem, the HQ of Jesus.

Magog was a son of Japheth (Genesis 10:2). There are many theories as to who these
peoples are today, but the strongest contenders are those from Central Asia and
Russia. The war mentioned in Ezekiel 38-39 seems to be referring to the Battle of
Armageddon (as Ezekiel 39:18-19 seem to parallel Revelation 19:18) whereas the war
in Revelation 20 is at the end of the Millennium.

They will all be destroyed by fire that will come down from God. Indeed, this fire will
consume and burn all heaven and earth as described in 2 Peter Chapter 3.

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass
away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth
and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be
dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens
will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

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Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in
which righteousness dwells”. 2 Peter 3:10-13 (NKJV)

This is the time when Satan meets his doom and is thrown into the lake of fire.

Doom#6: The Wicked Dead (Revelation 20:11-13; 20:15)

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth
and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead,
small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was
opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works,
by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in
it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were
judged, each one according to his works.” Revelation 20:11-13 (NKJV)

“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire”.
Revelation 20:15

The penultimate doom is on the wicked dead from all GENERATIONS. Those who
were not raised in the first resurrection (The Rapture) will be raised here to face God
at the Great White Throne judgment. This seems to be the judgment prophesied in
Daniel 7:9-10. They will be judged according to their works and only those found in the
book of life will be saved. All who fail this test will join Satan, the Antichrist, and the
False Prophet in the lake of fire, that is hell. All the glorified saints will not go through
this judgment but will be with Jesus, probably in the New Jerusalem.

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This is not the same as the “Bema” Judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14:10) which
will be at the start of the Millennium where Jesus will reward the righteous with an
inheritance of ruling and reigning with Him (see 1 Corinthians 3:12-15).

Doom#7: Death and Hades

“Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And
anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation
20:14 (NKJV)

The final doom is on Death and Hades, which are PERSONIFIED here. Both will be
thrown into the lake of fire. From this time on there will be no more death and those in
hell will live eternally separated from God and those in the New Heaven and the New
Earth will live eternally with God in their glorified state. Hades is a biblical term for the
disembodied state of the dead awaiting judgment and this state will no longer be
needed as final judgment will have come.

The Difference between Hades and Hell (Gehenna)

Hades and hell are two different words. Hades has not been translated, only
transliterated. Hades is found eleven times in the Greek New Testament. Out of the
eleven occurrences, Hades is translated "grave" once and "hell" ten times in the King
James Version. Hell is from the Greek “Gehenna”. “Gehenna” is found twelve times
and is consistently translated "hell" in most translations.

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Hades and hell are not the same. “Gehenna” (hell), as used in the scriptures, denotes
a place of eternal punishment. Jesus associates damnation with “Gehenna” (Matthew
23: 33). Hell (“Gehenna”) is the place of eternal fiery punishment, "fire that never shall
be quenched" and "... their worm dieth not" (Mark 9: 43 ff.). Therefore, the lake of fire
we see here is hell or “Gehenna”. Hades, on the other hand, should never be
translated hell.

Hades is the place of departed spirits. Jesus' soul, when He was crucified, went to
Hades (Acts 2: 27). The soul of the rich man also went to Hades (Luke 16: 23). Thayer
defines Hades as, "The common receptacle of disembodied spirits" (Thayer's Greek-
English Lexicon, pg. 11). As best as we can determine, Hades includes "paradise"
(Luke 23: 43) and torments, which may be the same as tartarus as used in 2 Peter 2:
4. "Paradise" and "Abraham's bosom" appear to be the same, a place of comfort for
the saved with torments being the holding place of torment for the unsaved. These two
areas are separated one from another (Luke 16: 26). Hades, consisting of paradise
where Jesus went and torments, is temporary and will ultimately be thrown into the
lake of fire, which is hell (Revelation 20: 12-15). After the Judgment Day, the saved
will ultimately go to heaven and the unsaved to hell (“Gehenna”, Revelation 20: 12-
15).

Therefore, Hades is that which is populated by the dead now and hell (the lake of fire)
is presently empty. Hell will be first populated by the Antichrist and the False Prophet
and, after the Millennium, by the Devil and all the wicked dead. At that time Hades
itself will be thrown into hell as it would have been emptied.

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HADES HELL
Waiting place of the dead spirits now.This is the Lake of Fire, the destination
of all the unsaved. Presently this is
Divided into Paradise (heaven), where unpopulated as the Antichrist and False
the saved souls go, and Torments, Prophet are seen as being the first
where the damned souls go. beings to be thrown here.
This is not the same as purgatory where This was actually prepared for the Devil
lost souls are given another chance. and his demons but the unsaved will join
them.

3. Conclusion:

All of God’s enemies will be dealt with for eternity. VENGEANCE truly is His
and we should not execute it ourselves but wait in hope, knowing He will deal
with all our enemies righteously, justly and in the proper time.

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PART TWELVE: ALL THINGS MADE NEW

1. Introduction:

Finally, we come to the last lesson that looks at the CULMINATION of God’s
great plan: All things made new.

This last section shows us the fulfillment of Ephesians 1:9-10:

“Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good
pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness
of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are
in heaven and which are on earth--in Him.”

We now come to the final group of seven – the seven new things. This is a
glorious ending to the book of Revelation, indeed to the whole Bible and to the
whole history of mankind. Seven is the number of completion and perfection
and these seven new things will complete His eternal plan and perfect all His
creation.

The Great Timeline

The following timeline summarizes all we have learnt, especially about the very
last part of Revelation.

After the Tribulation period, after all God’s wrath has been poured out and after
the Battle of Armageddon the saints will rule and reign with Christ for a thousand
years in The Millennium. During this time all the unbelieving dead will be in
Hades (the same as Sheol in the Old Testament – a place of the spirits of the
dead in their disembodied state). Only the Antichrist and the False Prophet will
be in the Lake of Fire (final hell) at this point. However, at the end of The
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Millennium the Devil will join them and the wicked dead will also be cast into
the Lake of Fire after the Great White Throne judgment.

After all wickedness has been dealt with (as we saw in the last lesson), God
introduces a series of seven new things in Revelation 21-22. These seven new
things, to do with the new heavens, new earth and saved humanity dwelling in
New Jerusalem with God, are what we will look at in this final lesson.

The Seven New Things

New Thing One: The New HEAVEN.

New Thing Two: The New EARTH.

New Thing Three: The New JERUSALEM.

New Thing Four: The New NATIONS.

New Thing Five: The New RIVER.

New Thing Six: The New TREE of LIFE.

New Thing Seven: The New THRONE.

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- How new is New?

Two Greek words for “New” in New Testament:

The key to this section is the word "new." Two Greek words are used for ‘new’
in the Bible. The first is the word, “neo”, which describes something completely
new that never existed before. The other is the word “kainos” meaning renewed
or transformed.

In every case here the Greek word KAINOS is used. So, all the new things
described are transformations just as a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly. It
is still the same creature but has undergone a dramatic transformation or
renewal.

Our Lord illustrated the use of these words in Matthew 9 verse 17: “Nor do they
put new (neo) wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is
spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new (neo) wine into new
(“kainos”) wineskins, and both are preserved.” In Jesus' day, freshly made wine
was stored in leather wineskins. The old wineskins were cleaned and retreated
after each use by being soaked in olive oil, to restore the suppleness of the
leather. The new (neo) wine was stored in new (“kainos”) wineskins. Here Jesus
was saying that the new wineskin is the new covenant, and he uses the word
“kainos” to show the old covenant is not cast away but renewed or transformed
(Jesus came not to do away with the Law but to fulfil it).

Paul gives us another illustration in 2 Corinthians 9:17: “Therefore, if anyone is

in Christ, he is a new (“kainos”) creation; old things have passed away; behold
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all things have become new (“kainos”)”. Becoming "born again" makes us a
new (“kainos”) creation. We still live in our earthly bodies and retain our physical
DNA. However, the core of our nature is renewed to enable it to live forever in
the presence of God. Our new (“kainos”) natures will continue to be frustrated
by the limitations of our flesh nature and by the Curse until we participate in the
rapture.

2. The Seven New Things

“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first
earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.” Revelation 21:1 (NKJV)

As we have seen this is not a brand-new heaven and earth that will appear out
of nowhere after the Millennium (as would be the case if the word “neo” was
used). The existing heaven and earth will be renewed or transformed in a
spectacular way, much like the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly. At
the end of the Millennium heaven and earth will be purged by fire:

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens
will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat;
both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since
all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in
holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of
God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the
elements will melt with fervent heat?” 2 Peter 3:10-12 (NKJV)

It must be noted that the Greek word translated “dissolved” here is “luo”
meaning “loosed” and translated elsewhere at “put of” such as in putting off the
old man and putting on the new. Hence, it is not a complete annihilation but a
burning off of all corruption and a putting on of new beauty. A loosing from all
that is not of God and an entering into the fullness that God has prepared.

When it says the first (or former) heaven and first earth will pass away, the word
“aperchomai” is used meaning “to go away”. This could simply be referring to
the old nature that which is not of God, as having gone away, just as a Christian
may say, “The former me has gone, I am a new creation”.

New Things #1: New Heaven (Revelation 21:1)

The Greek word used for “heaven” is “ouranos”, which is the word used both of
the sky and of God’s abode. Here, in context, it probably means the earth's sky
and atmosphere will be transformed, maybe even the universe beyond. There
may well be no more sun and moon at this time as revelation 21:23-24 says,
“The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God
gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the
kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it.”
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SUNLIGHT will not be needed as God’s glory will light up the world just as it did
before the heavenly lights were first created (See Genesis 1:1-5,14).

New Things #2: New Earth

The earth will be transformed into its GLORIFIED state. Just as Christians go
through two transformations, so will the earth. The new earth of Revelation 21
will have no sea, only water that comes from the throne of God in the form of
the River of Life. It will only contain fresh, life giving water.

Presently the earth is in its unregenerate form, sick and dying, like we were
spiritually before being born again. However, when Christ comes back and
starts His rule and reign with the saints for a thousand years in the Millennium,
the earth will truly be born again. It will be renewed and flourish like the Garden
of Eden. However, this is not its final state. Just as Christians are to be glorified
and given resurrection bodies, so the earth will receive its glorified body after
the Millennium. That is why the “earnest expectation of the creation eagerly
awaits for the revealing of the sons of God” (Romans 8:19) as the earth will
have the curse fully removed when the saints enter fully into their inheritance.

This would certainly seem to tally with James 1:18: “He chose to give us birth
through the word of truth that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.”
What happens to Christians, being born again and then being glorified, will also
happen to the rest of creation.

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New Things #3: New Jerusalem

“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven
from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud
voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He
will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them
and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall
be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the
former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold,
I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and
faithful.“ Revelation 21:2-5 (NKJV)

Next, John is shown the New Jerusalem coming down from the new heavens
to settle on the new earth. It is a time when God’s people come to live in a
place where there is no sin or death, pain or suffering as all these things have
been purged by fire.

This city is introduced as the Bride, the Lamb’s wife (Revelation 21:9-10):

“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven
last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, "Come, I will show you the
bride, the Lamb's wife." And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and
high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending
out of heaven from God,” Revelation 21:9-10 (NKJV)

Because of this many have speculated that this picture is purely SYMBOLIC of
God’s glorified people coming to live on this new earth, as the Church is now
called the Bride of Christ (Ephesians 5:22-33). This may be the case, but it
could also be describing a literal garden city. God’s people and the city of
Jerusalem are often linked in Scripture as being His bride, adorned with
precious stones. In Isaiah 54, after saying He is a husband to Israel, God says
he will “lay your stones with colourful gems and lay your foundations with
sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of rubies, your gates of crystal, and all
your walls of precious stones” (Verses 11-12), hinting at the restoration of the
literal Jerusalem as part of their restoration as a people, as His Bride.

It could well be that this is a vision of God’s perfected COMMUNITY, dwelling

in a literal city, New Jerusalem, descending to live eternally on the new earth.
Whether it is to be taken literally or metaphorically will only be fully revealed
when it happens, but we can categorically say that it represents the community
of God’s people with God Himself coming to dwell in holiness on a purified and
transformed earth.

Let us look further at the description of the New Jerusalem:

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“Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the
gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of
the children of Israel: three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three
gates on the south, and three gates on the west. Now the wall of the city had
twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the
Lamb.” Revelation 21:12-14 (NKJV)

This bride is made up of all God’s people, Jew, and Gentile as one NEW man.
This is clear as the twelve gates (each made of one massive pearl) have the
names of the twelve tribes of Israel on them and the twelve foundation stones
have the names of the twelve apostles on them. Hence all godly Jews and
Gentiles are included together as God’s bride. They are not separated as some
scholars teach, Jews having one destiny and Christians another, they are all
together as one Bride in one city, the New Jerusalem

Relative Size of New Jerusalem.

This New city is huge!

“And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and
its wall. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And
he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length,
breadth, and height are equal. Then he measured its wall: one hundred and
forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.”
Revelation 21:15-17 (NKJV)

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As the picture shows the New Jerusalem will be a perfect cube 12000 furlongs
on each side that is 1,363 miles taking the standard measure of a furlong (it
could be even larger as a furlong to an angel may be longer than to a human).
This would cover most of the Middle East with its base as seen on the map, the
square representing the area of its base. It would snugly fit inside the moon with
all corners touching the surface!

Notice the numbers given are multiples of 12 (12,000 and 144) – 12 is the key
number in the New Jerusalem being the number of Divine Government (the
leaders of God’s people).

Comparison of the New Jerusalem with Aaron’s BREASTPLATE.

“The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear
glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of
precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third
chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the
seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the
eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls:
each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold,
like transparent glass.” Revelation 21:18-21 (NKJV)

The twelve stones that make up the foundations of New Jerusalem along with
the twelve gates parallel the twelve stones on the breastplate of the High Priest
as seen in Exodus 28:17-21.

“And you shall put settings of stones in it, four rows of stones: The first row shall
be a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald; this shall be the first row; the second
row shall be a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond; the third row, a jacinth, an
agate, and an amethyst; and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper.
They shall be set in gold settings. And the stones shall have the names of the
sons of Israel, twelve according to their names, like the engravings of a signet,
each one with its own name; they shall be according to the twelve tribes.”

In each case there are twelve precious stones arranged in a square with four
sides and three stones on each side, each stone representing a tribe and the
whole thing is the covering of the High Priest who is now Jesus.

“So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel on the breastplate of
judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, as a memorial before
the LORD continually.” Exodus 28:29 (NKJV)

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Just as Aaron wore the stones close to His HEART (Exodus 28:29) so Jesus
longs to have us close to His heart and this will be fully realized in the New
Jerusalem.

New Things #4: New Nations (Revelation 21:24-27)

“And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of
the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by
day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor
of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles,
or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's
Book of Life.” Revelation 21:24-27 (NKJV)

New nations shall be formed out of the old. These nations will bathe in God’s
glory and walk in His light. Maybe the nations that were stricken by Jesus at His
second coming (the goat nations) will be the ones purged away and only the
righteous nations with His righteous glorified saints will remain.

New Things #5: New River of Life (Revelation 22:1)

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal,

proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.” Revelation 22:1
(NKJV)

The River of life is present even today, coming forth from the heart of Spirit-
filled believers:

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“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow
rivers of living water." But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those
believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because
Jesus was not yet glorified.” John 7:38-39 (NKJV)

The River Now:

Amazingly we can “taste the powers of the age to come” (Hebrews 6:5) right
now. This River that will be fully realized in the New Jerusalem is flowing for us
right now by the Holy Spirit. By faith we must dive into this river and allow the
Spirit to empower us with its mighty miracle-working, life giving force to bring
healing to the nations.

Now we are individually Temples of the Holy Spirit from which the River of Life
flows from (John 7:38-39) but in the Millennium the River of Life will literally flow
from the Temple that is envisaged in Ezekiel 47, bringing life to all it touches.
This is also mentioned in Zechariah 14:8-9:

The River in the Millennium

“And in that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem, half of
them toward the eastern sea and half of them toward the western sea; In both
summer and winter it shall occur. And the LORD shall be King over all the earth.
In that day it shall be-- "The LORD is one, and His name one.”” Zechariah 14:8-
9 (NKJV)

So, we see that in the Millennium the River of Life will flow from out of Ezekiel’s
temple (see Ezekiel 47) both eastwards into the Dead Sea making it alive and
westwards into the Mediterranean Sea. We know this is not on the New Earth
as there will be no seasons then without the sun, but the seasons summer and

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winter are mentioned here. There will also be no sea on the new earth but both
the eastern and western seas are mentioned in this passage.

The River in the New Jerusalem

“And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding

from the throne of God and of the Lamb.” Revelation 22:1 (NKJV)

However, with the coming of the New Jerusalem to the New Earth, the River of
Life will flow from the Throne of God and the Lamb, out from God Himself, out
of the gates of the city and into all the new nations of the new earth. There will
be no more temple (Revelation 21:22) as God will now dwell eternally with His
people.

Technically this is not a new River of Life as this river is flowing even now, but
it is a new location that it will be flowing from and into.

New Things #6: New Tree of Life (Revelation 22:2)

“In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life,
which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of
the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Revelation 22:2 (NKJV)

The Tree of Life is first seen in the Garden of Eden:

“And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to
the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden,
and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Genesis 2:9 (NKJV)

It was a tree containing fruit to give true life; however, mankind was barred from
it when at the Fall the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was
eaten. Man could only eat again from this tree in a righteous state, now found
only through believing in Jesus as our personal Lord and Saviour.

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The Tree of Life Now

Presently we partake of the Tree of Life when we walk in God’s wisdom:

“She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain
her.” Proverbs 3:18 (NKJV)

Living in His wisdom by partaking of His Word and Spirit we bring life to others
and our life become a Tree of Life to the nations:

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.”
Proverbs 11:30 (NKJV)

“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”

Proverbs 15:4 (NKJV)

The Tree of Life in the Millennium

In the Millennium, this Tree of Life will probably be seen along the banks of the
River of Life flowing from the Millennial Temple. The leaves of this tree will bring
healing to the nations at this time.

The Tree of Life in the New Jerusalem

In Revelation 22:2 where it says the leaves of this tree are for the healing of the
nations, the word healing is “therapeia” in the Greek. This is where we get the
word “therapy” from. It means a cure from sickness or malady. You may ask,
“Why is this needed in the New Jerusalem where there will be no sickness or
suffering?” Probably the leaves will remain as reminders of how God healed the
nations in the previous ages.

What is new here is that the Tree of Life has twelve fruits and there are many
such trees lining the banks of the River of Life in a new location, proceeding
directly from the Throne of God.

New Things #7: New Throne (Revelation 22:3-5)

“And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall
be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His
name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no
lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign
forever and ever.” Revelation 22:3-5 (NKJV)

You may ask here, “What is new about this throne, hasn’t God always been on
His throne?” That is true, but what is new here is the LOCATION of the Throne.
His Throne is now seen as with His people in the New Jerusalem and coming
down to the New Earth. Previously in Revelation we have had many glimpses

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of God’s Throne, but always in heaven. Now heaven comes down to Earth
permanently and forever:

“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God
is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God
Himself will be with them and be their God.” Revelation 21:3 (NKJV)

“But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its
temple.” Revelation 21:22 (NKJV)

As I said before, we can now “taste of the powers of the age to come” by seeing
His Kingdom come in our midst. This is merely a foretaste of the fullness to
come but it is still a present reality. As we spend time praising, glorifying and
worship Him the Lord will be enthroned in our praises:

“But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.” Psalm 22:3 (NKJV)

There are times now, briefly, when His THRONE will come down to earth as a
foretaste of the time when this will be a permanent reality. In times of revival and
anointed worship services we can now have a taste of heaven on earth as it will be
with the New Heaven, New Earth, and the New Jerusalem. We can now truly touch
heaven to change earth.

3. Conclusion:

"And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every
one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and
the End, the First and the Last." Blessed are those who do His commandments
that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates
into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and
murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. I, Jesus, have
sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and
the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." And the Spirit and the
bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts
come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If
anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in
this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy,
God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from
the things which are written in this book. He who testifies to these things says,
"Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” Revelation 22:12-21 (NKJV)

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THE END

Rev. Tim Gibson

Copyright 2018 Gibson Productions
http://www.revtimothygibson.com

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